IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


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^     J' 


^ 


/- 


1.0 


LA  12.8 


2.2 


111 


14.0 


Hiotographic 

SciSices 
Corporalion 


?3  WfST  Mi4IN  STREiT 

WEb:Ji  7t,N.Y.  145M 

(716)  •72-4503 


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CIHM/ICMH 

Microfiche 

Series. 


CIHIVl/ICIVIH 
Collection  de 
microfiches. 


Canadian  Institute  for  Historical  IVIicroreproductions  /  Institut  Canadian  de  microreproductions  historiques 


Technical  and  Bibliographic  Notas/Notoa  tachniquas  at  bibliographiquas 


Tha  Inatltuta  haa  attamptad  to  obtain  tha  baat 
original  copy  avallabia  for  filming.  Faaturaa  of  thia 
copy  which  may  ba  bibliographlcally  unlqua, 
which  may  altar  any  of  tha  imagaa  in  tha 
raproduction,  or  which  may  aignlficantly  changa 
tha  uauai  mathod  of  filming,  ara  chackad  balow. 


D 


D 


D 
D 


D 


D 


Colourad  covara/ 
Couvartura  d9  coulaur 


I     I    Covara  damagad/ 


Couvartura  endommagta 


□   Covara  raatorad  and/or  laminatad/ 
Couvartura  raataurAa  at/ou  palliculAa 

□   Covar  title  miaaing/ 
La  titra  da  couvartura  manqua 

□    Coloured  mapa/ 
Cartea  gAographiquas  en  couieur 


Coloured  inic  (i.e.  other  than  blue  or  black)/ 
Encre  de  couieur  (i.e.  autre  que  bleue  ou  noire) 


I     I   Coloured  piatea  and/or  illuatrationa/ 


Planchaa  at/ou  illuatrationa  en  couieur 

Bound  with  other  material/ 
RftiiA  avac  d'autrea  documanta 

Tight  bii  iding  may  cauae  ahadowa  or  diatortion 
along  interior  margin/ 

La  re  liure  serrie  peut  cauaar  de  I'ombre  ou  de  la 
diatortion  la  long  de  la  marge  int^rieure 

Blank  iaavaa  added  during  reatoration  may 
appear  within  the  text.  Whenever  poaaibla,  theae 
have  been  omitted  from  filming/ 
II  ae  peut  que  certainaa  pagea  bianchea  ajoutiaa 
lore  d'une  reatauration  apparaiaaent  dana  la  texte, 
maia,  loraque  cela  ttait  poaaibla,  cea  pagea  n'ont 
paa  4t6  filmtea. 

Additional  commanta:/ 
Commantairea  auppiimantairea: 


L'Inatitut  a  microfilm*  le  meilleur  exemplaire 
qu'il  lui  a  AtA  poaaibla  da  ae  procurer.  Lea  dAtalla 
de  cet  exemplaire  qui  aont  pout-Atre  uniquea  du 
point  de  vue  bibllographique,  qui  peuvent  modifier 
une  image  reproduite,  ou  qui  peuvent  exiger  une 
modification  dana  la  m6thode  normale  de  filmage 
aont  indiquAa  ci-deaaoua. 


I     I   Coloured  pagea/ 


D 


Pagea  de  couieur 

Pagea  damaged/ 
Pagea  andommegtea 

Pagea  reatored  and/oi 

Pagea  reatauriea  et/ou  pellicultea 

Pagea  diacolourad,  stained  or  foxet 
Pagea  dAcoioriaa,  tachettes  ou  piquiaa 

Pagea  detached/ 
Pagea  ditachtes 

Showthroughy 
Tranaparence 

Quality  of  prir 

Quality  in^gala  de  rimpreasion 

Includea  supplementary  materii 
Comprend  du  material  auppKmentaire 

Only  edition  available/ 
Seule  Mition  diaponible 


r^  Pagea  damaged/ 

I — I  Pagea  reatored  and/or  laminated/ 

rri  Pagea  discoloured,  stained  or  foxed/ 

[~~|  Pagea  detached/ 

rri  Showthrough/ 

r~n  Quality  of  print  variaa/ 

I      I  Includea  supplementary  material/ 

I — I  Only  edition  available/ 


Pagea  wholly  or  partially  obacured  by  errata 
slips,  ti:^suea,  etc.,  have  been  refilmed  to 
enaure  the  beat  possible  image/ 
Lea  pages  totalement  ou  partiellement 
obacurcies  par  un  feuillet  d'errata,  une  pelure, 
etc.,  ont  M  filmtea  d  nouveau  de  fapon  A 
obtenir  l«  meilleure  image  poaaibla. 


1 
a 

1 

V 

d 
a 

fa 
r 

r 


Thia  item  la  filmed  at  the  reduction  ratio  checked  below/ 

Ce  document  eat  film*  au  taux  de  rMuction  indiquA  ci-desaoua 

10X                           14X                           18X                           22X 

26X 

30X 

y 

12X 

16X 

20X 

a4x 

28X 

32X 

The  copy  filmad  h«r«  hat  bMn  rtproduetd  thanks 
to  th«  gonorotity  of: 

Library  of  the  Public 
Archives  of  Canada 


L'exemplaire  fllmA  fut  reproduit  grAce  A  la 
gAnArosit*  de: 

La  bibiiothAque  des  Archives 
publfques  du  Canada 


The  images  appearing  here  are  the  best  quality 
possible  considering  the  condition  and  legibility 
of  the  original  copy  and  in  Iceeping  with  the 
filming  contract  specifications. 


Original  copies  in  printed  paper  covers  are  filmed 
beginning  with  the  front  cover  and  ending  on 
the  last  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, or  the  back  cover  when  appropriate.  All 
other  original  copies  are  filmed  beginning  on  the 
first  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, and  ending  on  the  last  page  with  a  printed 
or  illustrated  impression. 


The  last  recorded  frame  on  each  microfiche 
shall  contain  the  symbol  — »•  (meaning  "CON- 
TINUED"), or  the  symbol  y  (meaning  "END"), 
whichever  applies. 


Lea  images  suivantes  ont  4tA  reproduites  avec  le 
plus  grand  soin,  compte  tenu  de  la  condition  et 
de  la  nettet*  de  l'exemplaire  film*,  et  en 
conformity  avec  les  conditions  du  contrat  de 
filmage. 

Les  exemplaires  originaux  dont  la  couverture  en 
papier  est  ImprimAe  sont  filmfo  en  commen^ant 
par  le  premier  plat  et  en  terminant  soit  par  la 
dernlAre  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration,  soit  par  le  second 
plat,  salon  le  cas.  Tous  les  autres  exemplaires 
originaux  sont  filmte  en  commengant  par  la 
premlAre  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration  et  en  terminant  par 
la  dernlAre  page  qui  comporte  une  telle 
empreinte. 

Un  des  symboles  sulvants  apparaftra  sur  la 
dernidre  image  de  cheque  microfiche,  selon  le 
cas:  le  symbols  — ►  signifie  "A  SUIVRE",  le 
symbols  Y  signifie  "FIN". 


IVIaps.  plates,  charts,  etc.,  may  be  filmed  at 
different  reduction  ratios.  Those  too  large  to  be 
entirely  included  in  one  exposure  are  filmed 
beginning  in  the  upper  left  hand  corner,  left  to 
right  and  top  to  bottom,  as  many  frames  as 
required.  The  following  diagrams  illustrate  the 
method: 


Les  cartes,  planches,  tableaux,  etc.,  peuvent  Atre 
filmte  A  des  taux  de  reduction  diff Arents. 
Lorsque  le  document  est  trop  grand  pour  Atre 
reproHuit  en  un  seul  ciichd,  11  est  film*  A  partir 
de  Tangle  supArieur  geuche,  de  gauche  A  droite, 
et  de  haut  en  has,  en  prenant  le  nombre 
d'images  nAcessaire.  Les  diagrammes  sulvants 
illustrent  la  mAthode. 


1 

2 

3 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

■■1 


REPORT 


OF  THE 


N AYAL  COMMITTEE 

TO  THE 

HOUSE  OF  REPRESENTATIVES, 

August,  1850, 

IN  FAVOR  OF  THE  ESTABLISHMENT  OF  A  LINE  OF 

MAIL  STEAMSHIPS 

TO 

THE  WESTERN  COAST  OP  AFRICA, 

AXD   THENCE  VIA  THE 

MEDITERRANEAN  TO  LONDON; 

DESIGNED 

TO  PROMOTE  THE  EMIGRATION   OF  FREE  PERSONS  OF  COLOR 
FROM  THE   UNITED  STATES  TO  LIBERIA: 

ALSO 

TO  INCREASE  THE  STEAM  NAVY, 

AND 

TO  EXTEND  THE  COMMERCE  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

WITH 

AN  ArrENDlX 

ADDED  BY  THE 

AMERICAN   COLONIZATION  SOCIETY. 


= 


WASHINGTON  : 

PRINTED  BY  GIDEON  AND  CO. 

1850. 


The  memorial  of  Judge  Bryan  was  referred 
to  the  Committee  on  Naval  Affairs,  composed 
of  Representatives  from  the  following  States : 

Fred.  P.  Stanton,  Tenn. 
Thos.  S.  Bocock,  Va. 
Rohert  C  Schenck,  Ohio, 
Emile  La  Sere,  La. 
Hugh  White,  N.  Y. 
Elbridge  Gerry,  Me. 
E.  Carrington  Cabell,  Fla. 
John  McQueen,  S.  C. 
Lewis  C.  Levin,  Pa. 


I 


The  Committee  on  \aval  Aflairs,  to  whom  was 
referred  the  memorial  of  Joseph  Bryan,  of  Ala- 
bama, for  himself  and  his  associates,  George 
Nicholas  Sanders  and  others,  praying  the  estab- 
lishment of  a  line  of  steamers  from  the  United 
States  to  the  coast  of  Africa,  designed  to  promote 
the  colonization  of  free  persons  of  color,  to  sup- 
press the  African  slave  trade,  to  carry  the  mails, 
and  to  rxteiid  the  commerce  of  the  United  States, 
beg  leave  to  submit  the  following  Report : 


The  proposition  of  the  memorial  involves  an  ex- 
tension  of  thai   system,   recently    commenced   by 
Congress,  which  has  for  its  object  the  creation  of  a 
powerful  steam  navy,  to  be  used  in  time  of  peace 
in  carrying  the  mails,  and  in  effecting  great  public 
objects,  not  to  be   attained   by  private   enterprise 
without  the  aid  of  Congress.     How  far  it  may  be 
desirable  to  extend  this  system  will  depend  upon 
the  double  consideration  of  the  present  condition  of 
our  naval  force,  and  the  importance  and  feasibility 
of  the  ends   to  be  accomplished   by  the  measure. 
As  to  the  first  of  these,  the  committee  will  present 
a  brief  statement  of  the  facts  material  to  a  correct 
understanding  of  the  comparative  extent  of  our  pre- 
sent steam  navy. 


In  the  report  of  Mr.  Secretary  Bancroft,  made 
to  the  Senate  on  the  2d  March,  1846,  the  total 
effective  steam  navy  of  Great  Britain  was  stated,  at 
that  time,  to  consist  of  one  hundred  and  ninety-nine 
vessels,  of  all  classes ;  that  of  France  numbered 
fifty-four ;  that  of  Russia,  without  the  Caspian  fleet, 
thirty-two ;  while  the  steam  navy  of  the  United 
States  could  boast  of  but  six  small  vessels,  and  one 
in  process  of  building ;  and  of  these  one  was  for 
harbor  defence,  and  another  a  steam-tug. 

Since  that  time,  however.  Congress  has  provided 
for  the  building  of  A  ur  war  steamers,  and  for  the 
establishment  of  several  lines  of  steamships  engaged 
in  carrying  the  mails,  consisting  of  seventeen  large 
vessels,  suitable  for  war  purposes,  and  at  all  times 
liable  to  be  taken  for  the  pubhc  service.  Of  these 
latter,  nine  will  run  between  New  York  and  Euro- 
pean ports  ;  five  between  New  York  and  Chagres  ; 
and  three  between  Panama  and  San  Francisco. 

Notwithstanding  this  increase  in  our  force,  it  has 
by  no  means  kept  pace  with  that  of  other  great 
commercial  nations.  The  American  Almanac  for 
the  present  year  estimates  the  steam  navy  of  France 
at  sixty-four  steam  vessels  of  war,  besides  a  reserved 
force  of  ten  steam  frigates  now  ready,  and  six  cor- 
vettes and  six  small  vessels  nearly  ready.  The 
French  Government  has  also  resolved  to  follow  the 
example  of  England  in  establishing  lines  of  steam- 
ers, built  so  as  to  be  easily  converted  into  ships  of 
war,  to  be  employed  in  commerce  and  for  carrying 


I 


mails,  but  being  at  all  times  subject  to  the  requisi- 
tion of  the  Government. 

England,  also,  has  added  largely  to  her  steam 
navy,  and  has  increased  her  lines  of  mail  steamers, 
giving  evidence  that  she,  at  least,  considers  this  the 
best  and  cheapest  mode  of  providing  in  time  of 
peace  for  the  exigences  of  war.  On  this  subject 
the  committee  refer  to  the  following  facts,  for  which 
they  are  indebted  to  the  remarks  of  the  Hon.  T. 
Butler  King,  of  Georgia,  made  in  the  House  of 
Representatives,  February  19,  1848. 

By  act  of  Parliament,  7  William  IV,  chap.  3,  all 
previous  contracts  entered  into  for  the  conveyance 
of  the  mails  by  sea  were  transferred  to  the  Admi- 
ralty. In  the  year  1839,  the  idea  was  conceived 
that  the  vast  expenditures  required  in  naval  arma- 
ments might  be  made  subservient  to  the  purposes  of 
commerce  in  time  of  peace.  Accordingly,  a  con- 
tract was  entered  into  with  Mr.  Cunard  and  his  as- 
sociates, for  the  conveyance  of  the  mails  from  Liv- 
erpool, via  Halifax,  to  Boston,  in  live  steamers  of 
the  first  class,  for  ^£85,000,  or  about  $425,000  per 
annum.  It  was  stipulated  that  they  should  be  built 
under  the  supervision  of  the  Admiralty,  should  be 
inspected  on  being  received  into  the  service,  and 
certified  to  be  capable  in  all  respects  of  being  con- 
verted into  ships  of  war,  and  of  carrying  ordnance 
of  the  heaviest  description.  Various  stipulations 
were  entered  into  in  this  and  other  contracts  of  a 
similar  character,  which  placed  these  ships  under 


• 


i' 


the  control  of  the  Government ;  thus,  in  fact,  mak- 
ing them,  to  all  intents  and  purposes,  at  the  same 
time  a  part  of  the  mercantile  and  miUtary  marine  of 
the  country. 

In  1846,  the  Government  enlarged  the  contract 
with  Mr.  Cunard  and  his  a-?sociates,  by  adding  four 
ships  to  run  from  Liverpool  to  New  York,  and  in- 
creased the  compensation  to  .£145,000,  or  about 
jJ725,000  per  annum. 

In  the  year  1840,  a  contract  was  made  by  the 
Admiralty  with  the  Royal  Mail  Steamship  Com- 
pany, at  i:240,000  sterling,  or  $I,200,OuO  per  an- 
num, for  fourteen  steamers  to  carry  the  mails  from 
Southampton  to  the  West  Indies.,  the  ports  of  Mex- 
ico on  the  Gulf,  and  to  New  Orleans,  Mobile,  Sa- 
vannah, and  Charleston.  These  ships  are  of  the 
first  class,  and  are  to  conform  in  all  respects, 
concerning  size  and  adaptation  to  the  purposes  of 
war,  to  the  conditions  prescribed  in  the  Cunard 
contracts.  They  are  to  make  twenty-four  voyages 
a  year,  leaving  and  returning  to  Southampton  semi- 
monthly. Another  contract  has  lately  been  entered 
into  for  two  ships  to  run  between  Bermuda  and 
New  York.  These  lines  employ  twenty-five  steam- 
ers of  the  largest  and  most  eflicient  description. 

In  addition  to  the  above,  a  contract  was  made, 
1st  January,  1845,  with  the  Peninsular  and  Orien- 
tal Steam  N.avigation  Company  for  a  line  of  similar 
steamers,  seven  in  number,  from  England  to  the 
East  Indies  and  China,   at   X 1 60,000  sterling,  or 


1 


i 


i 


jj(SOO,000  prr  nnnurn.  Tins  line  passes  from  South- 
ampton, via  Gibraltar  and  Malta,  to  Alexandria,  in 
Egypt ;  thence  the  route  continues  overland  to 
Suez,  at  the  head  of  the  Red  Sea,  trom  whence  the 
steamers  again  start,  touching  at  Aden,  Bombay, 
and  at  Point  do  Galle,  in  the  island  of  Ceylon,  from 
whence  they  proceed  to  Singapore  and  Hong  Kong. 
There  is  a  branch  line  connecting  with  this,  from 
Point  de  Galle  to  Calcutta,  touching  at  Madras. 

A  contract  was  made,  1st  July,  181(5,  for  a  Pa- 
cific line  of  British  steamers,  four  in  number,  run 
ning  from  Valparaiso  to  Panama,  touching  at  inter- 
mediate  ports.     This  line  connects  overland,  from 
Panama  to  Chagres,  with  the  West  India  line. 

Besides  these,  there  were,  in  1848,  twelve  more 
lines  of  Government  steamers  running  between 
Great  Britain  and  the  continent  of  Europe;  making  a 
grand  aggregate  of  one  hundred  and  fifteen  ocean 
steamships  fitted  for  war  purposes.  Very  recently 
the  British  Parliament  has  resolved  to  extend  the 
mail  steamship  system  to  Australia. 

The  committee  do  not  propose  that  our  Govern- 
ment shall  attempt  to  emulate  this  vast  network  of 
steam  navigation,  with  which  England  has  already 
encompassed  the  globe.  But  it  is  believed  that  the 
recent  increase  of  our  territory,  on  the  Pacific  and 
in  the  Gulf  of  Mexico,  forms  an  additional  reason 
for  a  considerable  augmentation  of  our  steam  navy, 
whether  by  a  direct  addition  to  the  navy  proper,  or 


!i 


IP 


8 

by  the  encouragomeiU  of  lines  of  stenm  packets,  to 
be  established  by  private  enterprise  under  the  aus- 
pices of  Governriient.  If  the  hitter  system  should 
be  adopted,  as  ah-eady  commenced,  tlie  ships  will 
ue  built  under  the  inspection  of  a  Government  of- 
ficer, at  the  expense  of  private  individuals;  they  will 
be  conmianded  by  oHicors  in  the  navy,  and  will  be 
at  all  times  available  for  the  public  service.  It  will 
be  the  interest  of  the  contractors  to  ado[)t,  from 
time  to  time,  all  the  improvements  which  may  be 
made  in  machinery  and  in  the  means  of  propulsion, 
and  the  ships  will  be  kept  in  good  repair.  Besides 
being  commanded  by  a  naval  officer,  each  ship  will 
carry  a  sufficient  number  of  midshipmen  for  watch 
officers,  and  thus  f.i  very  considerable  portion  of  the 
personnel  of  the  service  will  be  kept  actively  em- 
ployed, with  the  opportunity  of  acquiring  the  know 
ledge  and  skill  requisite  to  the  proper  management 
of  a  stenm  nnvy.  A  corps  of  trained  engineers  and 
firemen  will  be  attached  to  each  ship,  and  no  doubt 
these  would  generally  remain  with  her  when  the 
ship  should  be  called  into  the  public  service. 

The  committee  are  of  opinion  that  it  is  highly  de- 
sirable to  have  ready  for  the  public  service  some 
very  large  steamships  of  the  description  proposed 
by  the  memorialist.  They  would  have  great  advan- 
tages over  small  ships,  in  their  capacity  to  carry 
fuel  sufficient  for  long  voyages,  and  to  transport 
large  bodies  of  trrops,  and  place  them  rapidly,  in  a 


fresh  nrid  vij^orous  condition,  at  any  point  where 
tliey  nii<^ht  be  required. 

But  it  is  chietly  for  the  great  and  beneficent  ob- 
jects of  removing  the  free  persons  of  color  from  this 
country  to  the  coast  of  Africa,  and  of  suppressing 
the  slave  trade,  that  the  connnittee  arc  dis|)os('d  to 
recommend  the  adoption  of  the  proposed  measure. 
The  latter  of  these  has  been  the  subject  of  treaties 
by  our  Government  with  other  nations,  with  whom 
we  have  engaged  to  maintain  a  hirge  naval  force  on 
the  coast  of  Africa  to  assist  in  suppressing  the  in- 
human  tralKc;    while   the   emigration   of  the  free 
blacks  has  h  ng  been  an  object  of  great  interest  in 
all  parts  of  the  country,  and  especially  in  the  slave- 
holding  States,  where  they  are  looked  upon  by  the 
whites  with  aversion  and  distrust.     The  policy  of 
all  or  most  of  these  States  has  been  to  discourage 
manumission,  except  on  condition  of  the  removal  of 
the  liberated  slave.    In  no  part  of  the  Union  do  the 
free  blacks  enjoy  an  equality  of  political  and  social 
privileges ;  and  in  all  the  States  their  presence  is 
neither  agreeable  to  the  whites,  nor  is  their  condi- 
tipn  advantageous  to  themselves.     In  some  of  the 
slave  States  stringent  prchibitions  have  been  adopt- 
ed, and  unpleasant  controversies  with  free  States 
have  been  thereby  engendered.     The  emigration  of 
this  entire  population  beyond  the  limits  of  our  coun- 
try is  the  only  effectual  mode  of  curing  these  evils, 
and  of  removing  one  cause  of  dangerous  irritation 
between  the  different  sections  of  the  Union. 


i  'i 


m 

The  committee  beliave  it  is  expedient  to  aid  pri- 
vate enterprize  in  the  colonization  of  the  western 
coast  of  Africa,  because  it  is  the  most  effectual,  if 
not  the  only  mode,  of  extirpating  the  slave  trade. 
The  success  of  th  s  measure  will  doubtless  render 
the  African  squadron  wholly  unnecessary,  thus  re- 
imbursing a  large  portion  of  the  expense  ai tending 
it,  and  at  the  same  time  better  accom[)lishing  the 
object  for  wliich  that  squadron  is  maintain(?d.  It 
may  be  expedient  for  some  one  of  the  great  naval 
powers  to  keep  a  small  force  on  the  coast  of  Africa 
to  protect  Liberia,  for  a  limited  time,  against  the 
slave  traders.  Jiut  the  attempt  to  suppress  this  un- 
lawful traliic  by  blockading  the  coast  has  so  signally 
failed  that  it  will  probably  soon  be  abandoned  by 
the  great  European  powers.  While  the  influence 
of  the  Republic  of  Liberia  has  been  shown  in  the 
complete  suppression  of  the  trade  along  a  coast  of 
several  hundred  miles  in  length,  the  combined  squad- 
rons of  Europe  and  America  have  not  been  so  suc- 
cessful on  other  portions  of  that  unhappy  shore.  In 
1847  no  less  than  84,356  slaves  were  exported  from 
Africa  to  Cuba  and  Brazil.  In  the  opinion  of  the 
committee,  it  is  'lighly  important  to  prevent  the 
further  Africanizing  of  the  American  continents. 
An  opposite  movement,  so  far  as  the  free  blacks  arc 
concerned,  is  far  more  in  accordance  with  the  spirit 
of  the  age,  and  with  the  best  interests  of  a]<  Ameri- 
can Governments.     The  piiople  of  the  United  States 


11 


ri- 
rn 
if 
ie. 
er 
•e- 


have  shown  their  strong  aversion  to  the  slave  trade 
by  the  provision  in  their  Constitution  against  it,  and 
by  their  unremitting  and  vigorous  efforts  to  suppress 
it.  The  success  which  has  aheady  crowned  the 
infancy  of  Liberia,  indicates  the  true  mode  of  mak- 
ing those  exertions  effectual,  while  it  opens  up  the 
way  for  restoring  the  free  blacks  to  the  native  land 
of  their  fathers. 

The  committee  beg  leave  here  to  present  some 
interesting  facts  which  satisfy  them  that  the  terri- 
tory of  Liberia  is  eminently  adapted  to  colored 
emigrants  from  tlie  United  States ;  that  the  estab- 
lishment of  this  line  of  steamships  by  the  Govern- 
ment will  be  a  powerful  stimulus  to  the  cause  of 
colonization,  and  will  be  the  means  of  securing  the 
emigration  of  great  numbers  of  free  blacks ;  that  the 
slave  trade  will  be  substituted  by  a  peaceful,  le5?iti- 
mate,  and  valuable  commerce,  opening  new  souroes 
of  enterprize  and  wealth  to  our  people ;  and  that 
the  civilization  and  christianization  of  the  whole 
continent  of  Africa  may  be  expected  eventually  to 
follow.  The  facts  presented  are  collected  chiefly 
from  the  publications  of  the  Colonization  Society. 

That  portion  of  the  western  coast  of  Africa,  called 
Liberia,  embraces  a  tract  of  country  included  be- 
tween the  parallels  of  4°  21'  and  7°  north  latitude, 
extending  about  400  miles  along  the  coast.  I'he 
first  settlement  was  made  by  free  negroes  from  the 
United  States,  under  the  auspices  of  the  American 


m 

Colonization  Society,  in  the  year  1820.  The  objects 
of  that  society  were — 

"1st.  To  rescue  the  free  colored  people  of  the 
United  States  from  their  political  and  social  disad- 
vantages." 

"*2d.  To  place  them  in  a  country  where  they  may 
enjoy  the  benefits  of  free  government,  with  all  the 
blessings  which  it  brings  in  its  train. 

"3d.  To  spread  civilization,  Gound  morals,  and 
true  religion  throughout  the  continent  of  Africa. 

"4th.  To  arrest  and  destroy  the  slave  trade. 

"5th.  To  afford  slave  owners,  who  wish,  or  are 
willing,  to  liberate  their  slaves,  an  asylum  for  their 
reception." 

The  funds  of  this  society  have  seldom  exceeded 
^50,000  per  year,  but  they  have  purchased  territory, 
enabled  nearly  7,000  free  people  of  color  to  emigrate 
to  Liberia,  and  have  made  provision,  for  such  of  them 
as  required  it,  for  6  months  after  their  arrival.  In 
July,  1 847,  an  independent  Government  was  formed, 
which  has  been  recognised  by  France,  England, 
and  Prussia.  Upwards  of  80,000  of  the  natives  have 
become  civilized,  and  enrolled  themselves  as  citi- 
zens of  the  Republic.  The  Liberians  have  a  flour- 
ishing commerce.  They  have  not  only  succeeded 
in  suppressing  the  slave  trade  along  their  own  coast, 
but  have  also  made  treaties  with  several  tribes, 
numbering  over  200,000  souls,  for  the  discontinu- 
ance of  the  traffic.     They  have  purchased   their 


It 


;ts 


i 


territory  from  time  to  time  of  the  natives,  and  are 
gradually  extending  themselves  iip  to  the  British 
settlement  of  Sierra  Leone  and  down  to  the  Gold 
Coast. 

The  interior  settlements  of  the  purchased  tracts 
usually  extend  from  about  10  to  30  miles  from  the 
coast,  and  can  easily  be  enlarged  by  purchase  in 
that  direction  at  a  moderate  amount.  In  no  instance 
have  the  nr;tives  from  whom  the  land  was  purchased 
been  required  to  remove  their  residences.  The 
land  in  the  immediate  vicinitv  of  the  ocean  in  Libe- 
ria  IS  generally  low,  and  in  some  places  marshy ; 
but  there  are  some  elevated  spots.  The  land  gen- 
erally becomes  more  elevated  towards  the  interior^ 
and  in  some  places,  within  50  miles  of  the  coast,  it 
is  quite  mountainous.  It  is  desirable  for  the  colony 
to  become  possessed  of  this  back  country  as  it  is 
much  healthier  than  the  coast,  and  when  the  emi- 
gration from  the  United  States  becomes  extensive, 
the  mountain  region  will  soon  be  occupied.  The 
natives  are  a  fine,  healthy,  athletic  race  ;  and  even 
the  emigrants  to  the  lands  on  the  coast  have  enjoyed 
better  health  than  the  emigrants  to  some  of  our 
western  States  in  the  first  few  years  of  settlement. 

Liberia  is  on  the  "grain  coast,"  and  is  protected 
from  the  scorching  winds  of  the  north  and  east  by 
ranges  of  mountains.  The  soil  is  fertile,  and  pro- 
duces an  abundance  of  Indian  corn,  yams,  plantains^ 
coffee,  arrow-root,  indigo,  dyewoods,  &,c. 


14 

Every  emigrant  is  welcomed  to  the  colony,  and 
receives  a  grant  of  5  acres  of  land,  besides  which 
he  can  purchase  as  much  more  as  he  pleases  al  1 
dollar  per  acre. 

The  climate  is  not  suited  to  the  whites.  The 
president  and  all  the  officials  are  colored  men. 
There  are  flourishing  towns,  churches,  schools,  and 
printing  presses.  According  to  the  statement  of 
the  Rev.  R.  R.  Gurley,  who  has  recently  visited  the 
colony,  the  people  are  highly  moral,  well  conducted, 
and  prosperous,  and  the  value  of  the  exports  of  the 
Republic  is  at  present  509,000  dollars  per  annum, 
and  is  increasing  at  the  rate  of  50  per  cent,  an- 
nually. 

Not  only  will  the  slave  trade  be  abolished  by  the 
establishment  of  colonies  of  free  colored  people  on 
the  coast  of  Africa,  but,  as  already  intimated,  these 
colonies  will  be  the  means,  at  no  distant  period,  of 
disseminating  civilization  and  (Christianity  through- 
out the  whole  of  that  continent.  Already,  a  great 
many  of  the  natives  have  placed  themselves  under 
the  protection  of  the  Liberians,  whose  knowledge  of 
agriculture  and  the  arts  inspires  confidence  and 
respect. 

As  a  missionary  enterprise,  therefore,  the  coloni- 
zation of  Africa  by  the  descendants  of  Africans  on 
this  continent,  deserves,  and  no  doubt  will  receive, 
the  countenance  and  support  of  the  whole  Christian 
world. 


15 


Two  points  are  now  regarded,  both  in  Europe 
and  in  this  country,  as  settled  truths,  viz:  1st.  That 
the  planting  and  building  up  of  Christian  colonies 
on  the  coast  of  Africa,  is  the  only  practical  remedy 
for  the  slave  trade.  2d.  That  colored  men  only 
can  with  safety  settle  upon  the  African  coast. 

That  the  free  negroes  of  the  U.  S.  will  be  in- 
duced to  go  in  large  numbers  to  Liberia,  if  a  quick 
and  pleasant  passage  by  steam  vessels  be  provided, 
and  suitable  preparation  be  made  for  them  on  their 
arrival,  by  the  Colonization  Society,  cannot  admit 
of  any  doubt. 

The  funds  of  that  society,  augmented  probably 
twenty  fold,  will  then  be  available,  almost  exclu- 
sively, for  the  comfortable  establishment  of  the  emi- 
grants in  their  new  homes — the  expense  of  trans- 
portation chargeable  to  the  society  being  merely 
nominal. 

It  is  estimated  that  there  are  no  less  than  500,000 
free  colored  people  in  the  several  States,  and  that 
the  annual  increase  therein  of  the  black  race  is 
70,000  per  annum.  With  respect  to  slaves,  v/!io 
may  hereafter  be  manumitted,  no  doubt  such  manu- 
mission will,  almost  in  «very  instance,  be  upon  the 
condition  that  the  parties  shall  avail  themselves  of 
the  opportunity  of  emigrating  to  Liberia. 

The  committee  do  not  propose  that  the  emigrants 
should  be  landed  in  Liberia  and  then  left  to  their 
own  resources.     Liberia  is  at  present  incapable  of 


receiving  and  providing  shelter,  subsistence,  and 
employment  for  any  great  number  of  emigrants  who 
may  h\nd  there  in  a  state  of  destitution.  It  has  been 
the  practice,  heretofore,  for  the  Colonization  Socie- 
ty to  provide  for  the  colonists,  whom  they  have  sent 
out,  for  6  months  after  their  arrival,  and  the  cost  of 
such  provision  has  averaged  ^30  per  head,  in  addi- 
tion to  the  cost  of  transportation. 

A  large  amount  of  money  will  be  required  to  set- 
tle the  colonists  in  the  first  instance  comfortably  in 
their  new  homes.  But  there  is  no  doubt,  that  if  the 
Government  establish  the  proposed  line  of  steam 
ships,  the  people  of  the  different  Statej^  ^  and  the 
State  Legislatures,  will  at  once  turn  their  attention 
to  the  subject  of  colonization,  and  that  large  appro- 
priations will  be  voted,  and  liberal  collections  made, 
in  aid  of  that  object.  The  State  of  Maryland  has 
already  appropriated  and  laid  out  ^200,000  in  this 
work,  and  the  Legislature  of  Virginia  has  lately  ap- 
propriated $40,000  per  year  for  the  same  purpose. 
But  these  sums  are  insignificant  in  comparison  to 
what  may  be  expected,  if  the  Government  shall  give 
its  high  sanction  to  the  colonization  of  Africa,  and 
provide  the  means  of  transportation  by  a  line  of  steam 
ships.  In  that  event,  the  whole  mass  of  the  people, 
north  and  south,  who  for  the  most  part  do  not  ap- 
preciate the  rapid  progress,  and  the  high  capabili- 
ties of  Liberia,  will  quickly  discover  the  vast  impor- 
tance  of  colonization,  and  will  urge  their  represen- 


i 


tatives  to  adopt  measures  adequate  to  the  exigency 
of  the  case  and  the  magnitude  of  the  enterprise. 

There  is  good  reas  .n  to  anticipate,  that  important 
assistance  will  be  rendered  to  the  emigrants,  not 
only  by  the  missionary  societies  of  Europe,  but  also 
by  those  governments  which  have  taken  an  interest 
in  the  suppression  of  the  slave  trade,  and  which  are 
desirous  of  opening  channels  for  their  commerce, 
and  marts  for  their  manufactures,  on  the  western 
coast  of  Africa. 

It  is  estimated,  that  by  the  time  when  the  first 
two  ships  are  to  be  finished  and  ready  for  sea,  there 
will  be  a  large  body  of  emigrants  ready  to  take 
passage  in  them,  and  tr.at  for  the  next  two  years 
each  ship  will  take  from  1000  to  1500  passen- 
gers on  each  voyage,  or  from  8,000  to  1*2,000  in  each 
of  those  years.  To  furnish  each  family,  intending 
to  devote  themselves  to  agricultural  pursuits,  with  a 
dwelling-house  suitably  furnished,  and  a  piece  of 
land  of  suflicient  extent  cleared  and  planted,  togeth- 
er with  the  necessary  agricultural  implements  and 
a  stock  of  provisions,  will,  it  is  calculated,  cost  the 
society  a  sum  equal  to  $30  or  $40  per  head  for  each 
emigrant,  allowing  each  family  to  consist  of  five  per- 
sons. The  cost  of  establishing  families  intending 
to  follow  trading  and  mechanical  pursuits,  will  be 
somewhat  less  than  the  above  estimate  for  agricul- 
tural families;  but  the  average  cost  for  the  whole  of 

the  emigrants  may  be  estimated  at  $50  per  head, 
2 


i 


18 

including  all  the  expenses  of  transportation,  making 
a  total  of  from  $400,000  to  $600,000  per  annum, 
Jor  the  first  two  years. 

As  the  colony  increases  in  population,  and  the 
interior  of  the  country  hecomes  settled,  any  number 
of  emigrants  that  may  be  sent  out  will  be  rer.dily 
absorbed,  as  there  will  be  a  demand  for  all  kinds  of 
laborers,  mechanics,  and  domestic  servants,  and  it 
will  be  unnecessary  to  make  that  provision  for  them 
which  is  now  indispensable. 

The  Colonization  Society  will,  as  lieretofore,  so 
regulate  the  emigration  as  to  send  out  only  suitable 
persons,  and  keep  up  a  due  proportion  between  the 
two  sexes. 

By  the  compact  between  the  Colonization  Socie- 
ty and  the  Republic,  made  when  the  society  ceded 
its  territory  to  the  Republic,  ample  power  is  reserv- 
ed by  the  society  for  the  protection  of  emigrants 
who  may  be  sent  out  by  them.  Moreover,  the  au- 
thorities invite  emigration.^  and  each  emigrant  re- 
ceives a  donation  of  a  tract  of  Land. 

The  establishment  of  prosperous  colonies  on  the 
western  coast  of  Africa  will,  doubtless,  tend  greatly, 
in  the  course  of  time,  to  the  augmentation  of  the 
commerce  of  this  country.  It  appears  that  British 
commerce  with  Africa  amounts  to  no  less  than  5 
millions  sterling,  or  about  $25,000,000  per  annum. 
The  belief  is  now  confidently  entertained  in  Great 
Britain,  that  an  immense  commerce  may  be  opened 


19 

up  with  that  continent,  by  putting  an  end  to  the  slave 
trade,  and  stimulating  the  natives  to  the  arts  of 
peace. 

The  commerce  of  Africa  is  certainly  capable  of 
great  extension,  and  it  is  worthy  of  observation,  thai 
the  proposed  steamers  will  open  entirely  new  sources 
of  trade. 

On  this  subject,  the  committee  beg  leave  to  sub- 
mit the  following  particulars,  from  which  the  future 
resources  of  this  vast  undeveloped  region  may  be, 
to  some  extent,  anticipated. 

Palm  oil  is  produced  by  the  nut  of  the  Palm  tree, 
which  grows  in  the  greatest  abundance  throughout 
Western  Africa.  The  demand  for  it,  both  in  Eu- 
rope and  America,  is  daily  increasing.  The  aver- 
age import  into  Liverpool  of  palm  oil  for  some 
years  past  has  been  at  least  15,000  tons,  valued  at 
^400,000  sterling. 

Gold  is  found  at  various  points  of  the  coast.  It 
is  obtained  by  the  natives  by  washing  the  sand 
which  is  brought  down  by  the  rivers  from  the  moun- 
tains. An  exploration  of  the  mountains  will  proba- 
bly result  in  the  discovery  of  large  quantities  of  the 
metal.  It  is  calculated  that  England  has  received, 
altogether,  $200,000,000  of  gold  from  Africa.  I.i 
beria  is  adjacent  to  the  "  Gold  Coast  " 

Ivory  is  procurable  at  all  points,  and  constitutes 
an  important  staple  of  commerce. 

Coffee,  of  a  quality  superior  to  the  best  Java  or 


20 


Mocha,  is  raised  in  Liberia,  and  can  be  cultivated 
with  great  ease  to  any  extent.     The  cotTee  tree 
bears  fruit  from  thirty  to  forty  years,  and  yields  an 
verage  often  pounds  to  the  shrub  yearly. 

Cam  wood  and  other  dye  woods  are  found  in 
great  quantities  in  many  parts  of  the  country.  About 
thirty  miles  east  of  Bassa  Cove  is  the  commence- 
ment of  a  region  of  unknown  extent,  where  scarcely 
any  tree  is  seen  except  the  cam  wood. 

Gums  of  different  kinds  enter  largely  into  com- 
mercial transactions. 

Dyes  of  all  shades  and  hues  are  abundant,  and 
they  ha\e  been  proved  to  resist  both  acids  and  light. 

Pepper,  ginger,  arrow  root,  indigo,  tamarinds,  or- 
anges, lemons,  limes,  and  many  other  articles  which 
are  brought  from  tropical  countries  to  this,  may  be 
added  to  the  list.  Indeed,  there  is  nothing  in  the 
fertile  countries  of  the  East  or  West  Indies  which 
may  not  be  produced  in  equal  excellence  in  West- 
ern Africa. 

The  soil  is  amazingly  fertile.  Two  crops  of  corn, 
sweet  potatoes,  and  several  other  vegetables,  can  be 
raised  in  a  year.  It  yields  a  larger  crop  than  the 
best  soil  in  the  United  States.  One  acre  of  rich 
land  well  tilled,  says  Governor  Ashman,  will  pro- 
duce three  hundred  dollars'  worth  of  indigo.  Half 
an  acre  may  be  made  to  grow  half  a  ton  of  arrow- 
root. 

"  An  immense  market  may  be  opened  for  the  ex- 


21 

change  and  sale  of  the  innumerable  products  of  the 
nkill  and  manufactures  of  our  people.  Africa  is  es- 
timated to  contain  one  hundred  and  sixty  milhons 
of  inhabitants.  Liberia  enjoys  a  favorable  geograph- 
ical position.  She  is  protected  by  the  great  Powers 
of  Europe.  The  Liberians  have  constitutions  adapt- 
ed to  the  climate,  and  a  similarity  of  color  with  the 
natives.  They  will  penetrate  the  interior  with  safety, 
and  prosecute  their  trade  in  the  bays  and  rivers  of 
the  coast,  without  suffering  from  the  diseases  which 
are  so  fatal  to  the  white  man.  Liberia  is  the  door 
of  Africa,  and  is  destined  to  develope  the  agricultu- 
ral and  commercial  resources  of  that  continent,  be- 
sides being  the  means  of  regenerating  her  benight- 
ed millions." 

The  foregoing  remarks  have  related  entirely  to 
the  advantages  of  the  proposed  measure.  It  is  pos- 
sible some  scruples  may  be  entertained  in  regard 
to  its  constitutionality.  'J'his,  the  committee  think, 
cannot  be  reasonably  doubted.  The  Government  has 
already  adopted  this  mode  of  providing  a  powerful 
steam  navy,  at  the  same  time  giving  incidental  but 
important  encouragement  to  great  commercial  inter- 
ests. In  this  instance,  the  effectual  suppression  of 
the  slave  trade  and  the  withdrawal  of  the  African 
squadron  by  the  substitution  of  a  number  of  mighty 
steamers  regularly  plying  to  that  coast,  afford  a  mo- 
tive and  a  justification  which  do  not  exist  in  regard 
to  any  one  of  the  lines  already  established. 

It  was   the   opinion  of  Mr.  Jefferson   that  the 


22 

United  States  had  power  to  establish  colonies  tor 
the  free  blacks  on  the  coast  of  Africa,  and  he  de- 
sired its  exercise.  Chief  Justice  Marshall  and  Mr 
Madison  concurred  in  this  opinion.  And  it  is  to  be 
observed  that  the  first  purchase  in  the  colony  of  Li- 
beria was  made  by  the  Government  of  the  United 
States.  The  opinions  of  the  leading  jurists  of  our 
day  do  not  appear  to  differ  from  those  of  the  great 
founders  of  the  Constitution,  who  believed  not  only 
that  indirect  aid  to  the  cause  of  colonization  may  be 
given  in  accordance  with  that  instrument,  but  that 
the  Government  has  power  to  establish  the  colonies 
themselves.  'J'he  proposition  of  the  committee  does 
not,  by  any  means,  go  to  this  extent.  It  goes  no 
further  than  recently  adopted  and  still  existing  ope- 
rations of  the  Government,  while  it  is  believed  to 
rest  upon  far  higher  and  better  grounds  of  support. 
Nor  does  it  involve  any  merely  sectional  consid- 
erations. The  committee  have,  therefore,  refrained 
from  expressing  any  views  which  might  be  consid- 
ered favorable  to  the  peculiar  interests  either  of  the 
North  or  of  the  South.  The  question  of  slavery, 
now  the  cause  of  so  deep  an  excitement,  is  not,  to 
any  extent,  either  directly  or  indirectly  involved. 
The  Government  of  the  United  States,  it  is  admit- 
ted on  all  hands,  has  no  power  to  interfere  with  that 
subject  within  the  several  States.  Neither  does  the 
proposition  at  all  interfere  with  the  question  of  eman- 
cipation. This  is  wholly  beyond  the  jurisdiction  of 
he  Federal  Government,  and  belongs  exclusively 


23 

to  tho  people  of  the  several  Stutos,  and  the  individ- 
ual slaveholders  themselves.  I'lit  the  removal  of 
the  free  hiacks  to  the  coast  of  Africa  i »  a  mea- 
sure in  which  all  sections,  and  all  interests,  arc  be- 
lieved to  bo  equally  concerned. 

From  the  foregoing  considerations,  the  commit- 
tee believe  ir  to  be  wise  and  politic  to  accept  tho 
proposition  of  the  memorialists,  with  some  modifi- 
cations which  meet  with  their  approval. 

Instead  of  four  ships,  it  is  proposed  to  make  the 
line  consist  of  three,  which  shall  make  monthly 
trips  to  Liberia,  touching  on  their  return  at  certain 
points  in  Spain,  Portugal,  France,  and  England, 
thus:  one  ship  will  leave  New  York  every  three 
months,  touching  at  Savannah  for  freight  and  mails; 
one  will  leave  Baltimore  every  three  months,  touch- 
ing at  Norfolk  and  Charleston  for  passengers, 
freight,  and  mails;  and  one  will  leave  New  Orleans 
every  three  months,  with  liberty  to  touch  at  any  of 
the  West  India  islands.  They  will  proceed  directly 
to  Liberia,  with  liberty  to  touch  at  any  of  the 
islands  or  ports  of  the  coast  of  Africa;  thence  to 
Gibraltar,  carrying  the  Mediterranean  mails;  thence 
to  Cadiz,  or  some  other  port  of  Spain,  to  be  desig- 
nated by  the  Government ;  thence  to  Lisbon ; 
thence  to  Brest,  or  some  other  port  of  France,  to 
be  designated  as  above ;  and  thence  to  London — 
bringing  mails  from  all  those  points  to  the  United 
States. 


24 


hi 


The  measure  proposed  by  the  committee  con- 
tains the  following  stipulations  and  provisions,  to 
wit: 

Each  ship  to  be  of  not  less  than  4,000  tons  burden, 
and  the  cost  of  each  not  to  exceed  $900,000.  The 
Government  to  advance  two  thi'dsofthecost  of  con- 
struction, from  time  to  time,  as  the  building  pro- 
gresses— the  advance  to  be  made  in  five  per  cent, 
stocks  payable  at  the  end  of  30  years — such  ad- 
vances to  be  repaid  by  the  contractors  in  equal  an- 
nual instalments,  b(  ginning  and  ending  with  the 
service.  The  said  ships  to  be  built  in  accordance 
with  plans  to  be  submitted  to  and  approved  by  the 
Secretary  of  the  Navy,  and  under  the  superintend- 
ence of  an  oHicer  to  be  appointed  by  the  Secretary 
of  the  Navy,  and  to  be  so  constructed  as  to  be  con- 
vertible, at  the  least  possible  expense,  into  war 
steamers  of  the  first  class.  The  ships  to  be  kept 
up  by  alterations,  repairs,  or  additions,  to  be  ap- 
proved by  the  Secretay  of  the  Navy,  so  as  tc  be  at 
all  times  fully  equal  to  the  exigencies  of  the  service, 
and  the  faithful  performance  of  the  contract. 

Each  ship  to  be  commanded  by  an  officer  of  the 
Navy,  who,  with  four  passed  midshipmen  to  serve  as 
watch  officers,  shall  be  accommodated  in  a  i.ianne 
suitable  to  their  rank,  without  charge  to  the  Gov- 
ernment. The  Secretary  of  the  Navy  at  all  times 
to  have  the  right  to  place  on  board  of  each  ship  two 
guns  of  heavy  calibre,  and  the  men  necessary  to 


25 

serve  them,  to  be  nccommodated  and  provided  for 
by  the  contractors. 

The  Secretary  of  the  Navy  to  exercise  at  all 
times  such  control  over  said  ships  as  may  not  be 
inconsistent  with  these  terms,  and  to  have  the  right 
to  take  them,  or  either  of  them,  in  case  of  war,  for 
the  exclusive  use  and  service  of  thr  United  States, 
on  paying  the  value  thereof;  such  value,  not  ex- 
ceeding the  cost,  to  be  ascertained  by  appraisers 
mutually  chosen  by  the  Secretary  and  the  contrac- 
tors. The  Secretary  also  to  have  power  to  direct, 
at  the  expense  of  the  Government,  such  changes  in 
the  machinery  and  the  internal  arrangements  of  the 
said  ships,  or  any  of  them,  as  he,  at  any  time,  may 
deem  advisable. 

'I'he  contractors  are  further  required  to  stipulate 
to  carry,  on  each  and  every  voyage  they  may  make, 
so  many  emigrants,  being  free  persons  of  color,  and 
not  exceeding  2,500  for  each  voyage,  as  the  Ameri- 
can Colonization  Society  may  send ;  the  said  so- 
ciety paying  in  advance  ^10  for  each  emigrant  over 
twelve  years  of  age,  and  $5  for  each  one  under  that 
age;  these  sums  to  include  the  transportation  of 
baggage,  and  the  daily  supply  of  sailors'  rations. 

The  contractors  also  to  convey,  free  from  cost, 
such  necessary  agents  as  the  Government  or  the 
Colonization  Society  may  require,  upon  each  one 
of  said  ships. 

Two  of  said  ships  to  be  finished   and  ready  for 


2C 


Him  williiii  two  and  a  half  years,  and  the  other  within 
thrcM',  ^(jarH,  after  the  execution  of  the  contract. 

The  (aovernment  to  pay  forty  thousand  dollars 
for  each  and  every  trip;  and  to  exact  ample  securi- 
ty for  the  faithful  p^:i formance  of  the  contract,  be- 
widen  taking  a  lien  on  the  ships  for  the  repayment 
ofth*^  sums  advanced.  The  contract  to  continue 
15  years  from  the  completion  of  all  the  ships. 

To  assist  in  formin<j;  a  correct  judgment  as  to  the 
fairness  of  this  compensation,  the  committee  pre- 
sent an  estinmto  of  the  probable  cost  of  running  the 
said  ships. 

The  cost  of  the  ships  at  ^900,000  will  be  $2,700,- 
000.  Upon  this  amount,  interest  should  be  calcu- 
lattul  at  ()  per  cent.;  for,  although  the  contractors 
will  j>ay  the  (Jovernment  but  live  per  cent,  on  the 
portion  advanced,  the  balance  supplied  by  the  con- 
tractors, must  bo  estinuited  at  the  rates  in  New 
York  ami  New  Orleans,  which  are  above  six  per 
cent.  Six  per  cent,  will  be  a  fair  average  for  the 
whole. 

The  depreciation  of  this  kind  of  property  is  esti- 
mated variously,  sometimes  as  high  as  ten  percent, 
per  annum  on  the  total  cost;  but  as  these  ships 
will  be  subsumtially  built  tor  war  purposes, it  may  be 
estimated  at  a  lower  rate. 

Besides  this,  an  allowance  must  be  made  tor  re- 
pairs. New  boilers  will  be  required  every  six  years, 
and  the  substitution  of  these  tor  the  old  ones  not 


n 


only  causes  loss  of  time,  but  also  injury  to  the  ships^ 
involving  much  expense. 

The  rate  of  insurance  for  this  ppecies  of  proper- 
ty is  high.  The  committee  are  informed,  that  the 
steamships  Ohio  and  Georgia  pay  8}  per  cent. 

Add  the  expense  of  running  the  ships,  viz.,  fuel, 
wages  of  the  crew,  provisions,  stores,  dock  charges, 
harbor  dues,  agents,  pilotage,  light-house  dues,  &c., 
which  cannot  be  estimated  at  less  than  ^50,000  per 
voyage,  considering  that  the  distance  to  Liberii;, 
and  theiice  home,  via  Madeira,  Gibraltar,  Cadiz, 
Lisbon,  Brest,  and  London,  is  about  12,000  miles; 
and  that  each  voyage,  with  the  necessary  delays  in 
the  various  ports,  will  occupy  about  three  months. 

Statement  of  expenses. 

Interest  on  $2,700,000,  at  6  per  cent.     - 
Depreciation  and  repairs,  10  per  cent.  - 
Insurance  7  per  cent.     - 
Cost  of  running  the  ships,  $50,000  per 
voyage,  12  voyages  per  annum, 


$162,000 
270,000 
189,000 


600,000 


Total  annual  expense — $1,221,000 

Profits. 

Estimating  1500  passengers  for 
each  voyage,  and  12  voyages 
per  annum,  we  have  18,000 
passengers.  These,  $10  for 
adults  and    $5   for  children, 


28 

may  average  a  profit  of  ^3 
e.ach,  making  -  -     j§54,000 

Government  pay  -  -     480,000 


534,000 


Balance  of  expense  over  Government  pay 

and  profit  of  emigrants    -  -  jjS687,000 

Thus  it  will  be  seen  that  the  contractors  will 
have,  of  their  probable  expenses,  more  than  two- 
thirds  of  a  million,  or  ^57,250  each  voyage,  to  be 
made  by  commerce  and  passengers,  independent  of 
the  Government  pay  and  the  profit  from  the  Colo- 
nization Society.  It  is  quite  evident  that  any  further 
profit,  beyond  the  ordinary  rate  of  interest  at  6  per 
cent.,  will  be  contingent  upon  the  success  of  the 
enterprise  in  stimulating  commerce  with  the  United 
States  at  the  points  regularly  touched  by  these 
steamers.  The  contractors  have  confidence  in 
this,  and  the  committee  do  not  doubt  that  their  con- 
fidence will  be  rewarded  to  a  reasonable  extent. 

It  will  be  observed,  that  as  the  Colonizcition  So- 
ciety now  pay  for  the  transportation  of  emigrants 
to  Liberia,  in  sailing  vessels,  no  less  than  $30  per 
head,  the  proposed  arrangement  will  make  the  actu- 
al cost  eventually  less  than  this,  even  adding  the 
amount  to  be  paid  by  the  United  States  for  this  ser- 
vice, to  the  amount  to  be  paid  by  the  said  society, 
without  estimating  the  receipt  from  mails,  which 
will  probably  be  large. 


29 

At  the  commencement  of  operations,  when  it  is 
estimated  that  the  first  two  ships  will  carry  out  1000 
or  1500  emigrants  for  each  voyage,  the  cost  will  be 
little  more  than  it  is  at  present,  while  the  passage 
will  be  quicker,  pleasanter,  and  healthier,  offering 
great  inducements  to  emigrants,  and  placv  ^^^  them 
upon  the  shores  of  Liberia  in  a  sound  and  efficient 
condition. 

As  the  capacity  of  the  colony  to  receive  a  large 
number  of  emigrants  increases,  the  ratio  of  expense 
will  be  diminished;  and  it  cannot  be  doubted,  that 
eventually,  as  the  number  of  emigrants  will  increase, 
the  cost  of  transportation  will  relatively  diminish. 

The  committee  do  not  recommend  the  accep- 
tance of  the  proposition  of  the  memorialists,  that 
they  shall  be  permitted  to  import  the  produce  of 
Liberia  into  this  country  free  of  duty;  on  the  con- 
trary, it  is  believed  to  be  better,  for  obvious  reasons, 
to  enter  into  no  such  stipulations,  but  to  confine  the 
remuneration,  whatever  it  may  be,  to  a  direct  pay- 
ment of  money. 

In  the  above  estimates,  the  committee  have  en- 
deavored, as  far  as  possible,  to  arrive  at  just  con- 
clusions; while  at  the  same  time,  in  view  of  the 
great  public  objects  to  be  attained  by  the  establish- 
ment of  the  proposed  line  of  steamships,  they  have 
not  deemed  it  inconsistent  with  the  just  liberality  of 
the  Government,  that  those  who  have  had  the  sa- 
gacity to  conceive,  and  who  have  the  ability  faith- 


30 


fully  to  carry  out  this  noble  project,  should  have  at 
least  a  contingent  opportunity  of  deriving  a  hand 
some  profit  from  their  enterprise.  Considering  the 
hazards  involved  in  it,  the  committee  believe  their 
estimates  to  be  fair  and  just  to  both  parties. 

The  committee  report  a  bill  accordingly,  to  which 
they  ask  the  favorable  consideration  of  the  House. 

Reported  from  the  Committee  by 

FRED.  P.  STANTON, 

Chairman. 
Washington,  Aug.  1,  1850. 


m, 


at 
id 
\ie 
5ir 


APPENDIX, 


). 


ADDED  BY  THE  AMERICAN  COLONIZATION  SOCIETY. 


From  the  Executive  Committee  of  the  American  Colonizniion  So- 

cietyy  to  the  friends  of  Colonization  throughout  the  U.  States. 

The  foregoing  Report,  emanating  from  the  Committee  on  Naval 
Affairs  of  the  House  of  Representatives,  U.  S.,  we  commend  to 
your  earnest  attention. 

The  subjects  embraced  therein  are  worthy  the  most  zealous  co- 
operation of  all  who  value  the  institutions  of  our  country,  and 
who  are  willing  to  establish  on  the  coast  of  Africa  the  only  means 
which,  under  the  blessing  of  God,  may  bring  light  out  of  gloom, 
order  out  of  disorder,  mind  out  of  instinct,  civilization  out  of  bar- 
barism, and  heaven-born  truth  out  of  Pagan  superstition  and 
cruelty. 

This  able  and  comprehensive  Report  has  been  read  by  us  with 
much  pleasure,  and  we  cani.ot  doubt  will  be  highly  instrumental 
in  calling  out  the  assistance  of  legislators,  both  National  and  State. 

The  cautious  and  wise  manner  in  which  our  Society  is  to  de- 
rive the  most  unexpected  and  ample  assistance,  fills  us  with 
admiration,  and  inspires  us  with  hopes  in  its  entire  success. 

Without  arrogating  to  ourselves  the  pretension  of  adding  to 
said  Report,  we  only  avail  ourselves  of  the  occasion  of  its  circu- 
lation, to  give  a  few  extracts  fr<im  the  opinions  and  sentiments  of 
some  of  our  wisest  statesmen  and  purest  patriots. 

M.  ST.  CLAIR  CLARKE, 
from  Ex.  Com.  Cul.  Society. 

Washington  City,  August,  1S50. 


32 


Letter  from  Hon.  Elisha  Whittlesey,  one  of  the  Vice  Presidents 
of  the  American  Colonization  Society. 

Treasurv  Department, 
Comptroller's  Office^  July  20/A,  1850. 

Matthew  St.  Clair  Clarke,  Esq., 

Member  of  the  Ex.  Com.  Col.  Society,  Washington. 

Mr  DEAR  sir:  Judge  Joseph  Bryan  and  his  associates  have 
petitioned  Congre»is  for  some  aid  and  assistance  to  establish  and 
maintain  a  line  of  steamers  to  the  western  coast  of  Africa,  and 
you  express  "  a  desire  to  have  a  few  remarks  from  me  on  the 
probable  benefit  resulting  therefrom  to  our  great  and  good  Society, 
for  which  we  have  so  long  labored." 

You  very  properly  restricted  nie  to  a  few  remarks,  and  those 
to  the  subject  of  Colonization. 

The  Committee  on  Naval  AfRurs,  to  whom  the  memorial  was 
referred  in  the  House  of  Representatives,  will,  without  doubt, 
establish  in  their  report  the  importance  of  the  measure,  as  con- 
nected with  the  increase  of  our  steam  navy,  so  essential  to  our 
defence  in  time  of  war,  and  to  our  commerce;  with  Africa.  This 
commerce  will  be  great,  beyond  the  most  extravagant  calculation 
that  has  been  made. 

My  attention  was  first  drawn  to  the  subject  of  African  coloni- 
zation at  the  annual  meeting  of  the  Society  in  1823,  when  listen- 
ing to  the  remarks  of  the  Hon.  Robert  Goodloe  Harper,  and 
others.  From  that  time  to  the  present,  my  belief  has  been,  and 
now  is,  that  an  "  all-wise  Providence"  will  accomplish,  through 
the  institution  of  slavery  in  this  country,  the  civilization  and 
Christianization  of  Africa,  by  the  agency  of  this  Society  and  its 
kindred  associations.  The  Republic  of  Liberia  invites  those  who 
wish  to  give  freedom  to  the  human  beings  they  hold  in  bondage 
to  do  so,  without  any  excitement,  commotion,  or  opposition.  An 
acceptance  of  the  invitation  violates  no  right,  alarms  no  fear, 
wounds  no  feeling,  awakens  no  jealousy.  One  party  is  relieved 
from  a  heavy  respon^ibility,  and  the  other  enjoys,  in  the  land  of 


.< 


33 

their  fathers,  civil  and  religious  freedom.  Every  intelligent  emi- 
grant from  this  country  is  a  missionary  to,  and  an  instructor  of, 
his  brethren.  Africa  will  be  Christianized  wh»  n  parts  of  Asia 
will  be  in  heathen  darkness. 

The  plan  ranks  with  the  most  importp^'t  of  those  of  the  inter- 
esting age  in  which  we  live;  and,  if  patro.  izod  by  Congress,  will 
richly  bless  two  continents.  There  has  been  no  colony  so  pros- 
perous, or  that  has  achieved  so  much  within  the  same  space  of 
time,  as  the  colony  of  Liberia;  and  it  is  a  remarkable  fact,  that 
during  a  period  of  thirty  years,  since  the  first  expedition  was  fit- 
ted out  to  Africa,  not  a  life  has  been  lost  by  shipwreck. 

If  this  Congress  shall  co-operate  in  this  great  national  interest, 
it  will  stand  immortalized  on  the  page  of  history. 

Most  sincerely  yours, 

ELISHA  WHITTLESEY. 


Letter  from  the  Hon.  R.  J.  Walker,  orie  of  the  Vice  Presidents  of 
the  Jlmerican  Colonization  Society. 

Washington  Citv,  July  23,  1850. 

Dpar  Sir:  I  have  received  your  letter  of  last  week,  on  behalf 
of  the  Executive  Committee  of  the  American  Colonization  So- 
ciety, addressed  to  me  as  a  Vice  President  of  that  Society, 
requesting  my  views  as  to  Mr.  Bryan's  memorial  for  the  trans- 
portation, by  steam  vessels,  of  our  free  bhuks  to  Liberia. 

I  have  had  no  time  to  examine  the  details  of  the  plan,  but  as- 
regards  the  main  question,  I  most  fully  concur  in  the  policy  of  a 
removal  of  our  free  blacks  to  Liberia,  through  the  instrumen- 
tality of  steamships,  and  with  the  aid  of  the  Government  of  the 
United  States.  The  plan  presented  seems  to  me  free  from  all 
constitutional  objections.  It  seems,  also,  to  be  perfectly  practi- 
cable, and  its  successful  execution  would  confer  incalculable 
blessings  upon  our  country.  Indeed,  I  have  ever  regarded  colo- 
nization and  abolition  as  antagonist  niea^ures,  and  that  the  suc- 
3 


34 

cess  of  the  first  would  overthrow  the  latter,  and  thus  rescue  our 
beloved  country  from  the  danger  of  disunion. 

Very  truly  your  friend, 

R.  J.  WALKER. 
M.  St.  Clair  Clarke, 

Ch.  Ex.  Com.  ofJJm.  Col.  Sac. 


Extract  of  a  letter  from  Gov.  Wright,  of  Indiana. 

Indianapolis,  Indiana,  July  3t/,  18.50. 

To  the  Executive  Committee  of  the  Col,  Society — 

Gentlemen:  Your  circular,  containing  a  copy  of  Mr.  Bryan's 
memorial,  came  to  hand  a  few  days  ago,  and  1  have  no  hesitation 
in  saying  that  Mr.  B's  plan,  or  any  other  good  plan,  of  forming 
a  line,  or  lines,  of  transport  to  draw  off  our  free  people  of  color, 
will  meet  with  general  favor  in  our  State. 

And  some  movement  of  the  kind  is  much  needed;  for  the  youth 
of  the  free  States  are  growing  up  ignorant  of  the  merits  of  colo- 
nization, and  very  sceptical  as  to  its  final  success.  This  has  been 
produced  by  the  labors  of  men  in  the  North  who  have  never  in- 
vestigated the  subject,  and  who  have  poured  contempt  on  all 
your  attempts  to  colonize — they  have  been  too  successful  in  indoc- 
trinating the  youth  of  the  North.  A  want  of  faith  in  the  enter- 
prise, or  confidence  in  its  final  success,  will  ^oon  paralyze  all  your 
efforts  in  the  North;  for  in  a  few  years  the  unbelief  of  our  young 
men  will  become  confirmed,  and  when  they  grasp  the  re'ns  of 
government,  which  they  will  do  in  the  course  of  time,  African 
colonization  will  be  discarded  by  the  North. 

The  best  remedy  that  can  be  devised  for  the  above  ignorance 
and  scepticism,  among  Northern  men,  will  be  a  bold  and  decided 
movement  on  the  part  of  the  General  Government,  which  will 
look  directly  toward  the  separation  of  the  colored  race  from  the 
white  race,  and  the  erection  of  the  colored  people  into  an  inde- 
pendent commonwealth. 


35 


This  movement  will  confound  the  opponents  of  colonization  in 
the  North;  it  will  send  a  thrill  of  confidence  through  the  hearts 
of  all  our  friends;  it  will  compel  the  people  to  think  and  talk  on 
the  subject  of  a  national  colonization  enterprise,  and  it  will  com- 
pel each  newspaper  in  the  lanu  to  Mpeak  out  on  the  t-ubject.  Dis- 
cussion i«  all  we  want,  for  then  we  can  make  thousands  uf  friends; 
in  short,  we  can  indoctrinate  the  nation  with  our  opinions,  '<  and 
opinion  rules  the  world." 

As  to  Mr.  B's  plan,  we  are  willing  that  he  and  his  friends  shall 
have  the  monopoly  of  the  African  trade  for  a  lime;  but  that  mo- 
nopoly should  be  so  guarded  as  to  make  it  a  source  of  wealth  to 
Liberia,  and  not  a  drain  on  the  wealth  of  that  Republic,  or  be 
calculated  to  retard  her  progress.  The  East  India  Comp!»ny  has 
been  a  stupendous  leech  on  British  India,  from  which  it  has 
drawn  untold  millions,  and  under  whose  management  India  must 
become  impoverished,  and  made  dependent  on  England. 

The  interest  of  colonization  requires  that  we  foster  Liberia,  and 
not  impoverish  her.  If  Mr.  B.  is  to  be  remunerated  for  his  trou- 
ble, and  doubtless  he  should  be  paid,  and  well  paid,  let  the 
American  people  pay  him,  and  not  Africa.  So  plan  the  scheme 
that  it  will  be  the  interest  of  the  free  man  of  color  to  go  to  Africa, 
and  this  can  be  best  accomplished  by  making  Liberia  a  wealthy 
commercial  nation. 

It  would  be  well  to  blend  the  Colonization  Society  and  Mr.  B's 
company  into  one  association,  if  possible,  and  procure  liberal  pro- 
visions from  the  General  Government,  granting  large  powers  for 
forming  settlements  and  trading  statio'is  on  the  coast  of  Africa; 
but  having  no  power  to  hold  real  estate  in  Africa,  except  a  few 
acres  at  proper  points  on  the  coast  for  factories,  around  which 
colonies  might  be  established,  which,  growing  into  states,  would 
in  due  time  take  their  place  among  the  states  of  the  Liberian  con- 
federacy. 


I  know  of  no  enterprise  of  this  age  that  we,  as  Americans, 


86 

■hould  hfl  no  willing  to  tnkc  hold  of  an  one  man,  with  nerve  and 
tnergy,  as  that  of  the  HoUUMiiont  of  Lib(>iia. 

Ah  uiw.  cili/cn  of  this  nation,  I  woidd  be  willing  to  make  all 
my  contrihutionH,  and  duvott*  the  last  dollar  of  my  meanH,  to  the 
colonization  of  the  black  man  ol  this  country  to  Liberia. 

1  have  the  honor  to  be. 

Yours,  most  reHpectfully, 

JOS.  A.  WRIGHT. 
Rev.  William  McLain, 

Sec.  Jim.  Col.  <S'tic.,  Washington  City. 


Opinions  of  Jefferson^  Mndisony  Monroe^  and  Chief  Justice  Mar- 
shall ^  and  others,  on  the  colonization  of^Jrica. 

The  following  extracts  from  an  Address  to  the  Legi^'lator8  and 
People  of  Virginia,  publi.hed  in  the  thirty-third  Annual  Report 
of  the  American  Colonization  Society,  Jan.  15,  1850,  shows  the 
progress  of  the  question  in  Virginia: 

The  Governor  of  the  Commonwealth  having  in  his  late  mes- 
sage recommended  the  American  Colonization  Society  to  the  par- 
ticular attention  of  the  Legislature,  and  the  subject  having  been 
referred  to  a  select  committee,  whose  report  is  daily  anticipated, 
it  seems  a  fitting  time  to  remind  the  Legislators  and  citizens  of 
Virginia  of  some  facts  touching  the  origin  and  history  of  an  insti- 
tution which  is  attracting  the  regards  and  challenging  the  admi- 
ration of  the  civilized  world.  It  must  endear  thLs  institution  to 
Virginians,  and  strengthen  their  confidence  in  its  wisdom,  to  be 
reminded  that  it  comes  commended  to  the  present  generation  by 
the  authority  of  our  most  patriotic  and  sagacious  statesmen,  and 
the  deliberate  successive  acts  of  our  Legislature. 

It  claims  for  its  authors  Thos.  Jetlerson,  author  of  the  Decla- 
ration of  independence,  Edmund  Pendleton  and  George  Wythe, 
high  in  the  first  rank  of  their  country's  orators  and  jurists — the 
Manstield  and  the  Hale  of  Virginia — George  Mason,  perhaps  the 


37 

winest  statesman  to  whom  Virginia  hofl  given  birth,  and  Thomaa 
Ludwell  Lee,  who  was  deemed  by  the  Legislature  of  177G  their 
fit  associate.  Thetie  gentlemen  were  appoiiitiMJ,  by  the  first  Legis- 
lature after  tl'e  Declaration  of  Independence,  to  revise  the  lawi 
of  this  State.  This  committee  proposed  a  comprehensive  plan  of 
colonization.  The  emancipation  feature  in  this  plan  was  proba- 
bly the  reason  of  its  failure.  The  seed  of  the  Colonization  So- 
ciety had  nevertheless  be^n  sown,  which  springing  up  after  the 
lapse  of  a  few  years,  and  pruned  of  its  excrescences,  began  to 
grow  and  bear  fruit.  Its  first  fruit  was  the  plan  of  Dr.  Thornton, 
(a  Virginian,)  in  1787,  to  colonize  the  free  colored  people  upon 
the  coad  of  Jlfrica.  This  being  the  suggestion  of  a  private  indi- 
vidual  had  no  visible  results.  A  few  years  afterward  the  Colony 
of  Sierra  Loone,  consisting  of  slaves  who  had  taken  refuge  in  the 
British  army  during  the  RevolutiotiJry  war,  was  established. 

On  the  31st  December,  1800,  the  House  of  Delegates  of  Vir- 
ginia passed  almost  unanimously  the  following  resolution: 

^^Resolvedf  That  the  Governor  be  requested  to  correspond 
with  the  President  of  the  United  States  on  the  subject  of  pur- 
chasing lands  without  the  limits  of  tliis  State,  whither  persons 
obnoxious  to  the  laws,  or  dangerous  to  the  peace  ol  Society,  may 
be  removed." 

In  compliance  with  this  resolution,  Mr.  Monroe  addressed 
a  letter  to  Mr.  Jeffeiaon,  dated  Richmond,  15th  June,  1801,  in 
whirh  he  says:  "  We  perceive  an  existing  evil  which  commenced 
under  our  colonial  system,  with  which  we  are  not  properly 
chargeable,  and  we  acknowledge  the  extreme  ditficulty  of  reme- 
dying it.  At  this  point  the  mind  rests  with  suspense,  and  surveys 
with  anxiety  obstacles  which  become  more  serious  as  we  approach 
them.  To  lead  to  a  sound  decision,  and  make  the  result  a  happy 
one,  it  is  necessary  that  the  field  of  practicable  expedients  be 
opened  on  the  widest  possible  scale;  under  this  view  of  the  sub- 
ject, I  shall  beg  leave  to  be  advised  whether  a  tract  of  land  in 
the  western  territory  of  the  United  States  can  be  procured  for 


38 

this  purpose,  in  what  quarter,  and  on  what  terms?  You  perceive 
that  I  invite  your  attention  to  a  subject  of  great  importance,  one 
"Sshich  in  a  peculiar  degree  involves  the  future  peace  and  tran- 
quility and  happiness  of  the  good  people  of  this  commonwealth." 

On  the  8th  of  November,  1801,  Mr.  Jefferson  replied  in  a 
long  letter,  in  the  course  of  which  he  goes  on  to  discuss  the  prac- 
ticability and  expediency  of  procuring  territory  (>n  our  western 
or  southern  frontier,  and  concludes  with  ashing,  would  we  be  wil- 
ling to  have  such  a  colony  in  contact  with  us?  It  is  impossible, 
he  adds,  not  to  look  forward  to  distant  times,  when  our  rapid  mul- 
tiplication will  expand  beyond  [hoti  limits,  and  cover  the  whole 
northern  if  not  the  whole  southern  continent  with  a  people  speak- 
ing the  same  language  and  governed  with  the  same  laws.  Nor 
can  we  contemplate  with  satisfaction  either  blot  or  mixture  on 
that  surface. 

He  the.  gives  the  preference  to  the  West  Indies,  and  among 
these  islands  to  St.  Domingo,  in  consideration  of  their  being 
already  inhabited  by  a  people  of  their  own  race  and  color,  and 
having  a  climate  congenial  with  their  constitution,  and  being 
insulated  from  other  descriptions  of  men.  Africa,  he  concludes, 
would  offer  a  last  and  undoubted  resort,  if  all  others  more  desira- 
ble should  fail  us. 

On  the  16th  June,  1802,  the  House  of  Delegates  of  Virginia 
passed  the  following  resolutions,  which  were  agreed  to  by  the 
Senate  on  the  23d: 

^^Rcsolved,  That  the  Governor  be  requested  to  correspond 
with  the  President  of  the  United  States  for  the  purpose  of  ob- 
taining a  place  without  the  limits  of  the  same,  to  which  free 
negroes  or  mulattocs,  and  such  negroes  or  mulattoes  as  may  be 
emancipated,  may  be  sent  or  choose  to  remove  as  a  place  of  asy- 
lum, and  ihat  it  is  not  the  wish  of  the  Legislature  to  ob'ain  the 
sovereignty  of  such  pl5>ce.'* 

In  December,  1804,  Mr.  Jefferson  addressed  a  letter  to  Gov- 


39 

ernor  Page  of  Virginia,  in  which  he  says,  the  island  of  St.  Do- 
mingo, our  nearest  and  most  convenient  resource,  is  too  unset- 
tled to  be  looked  \  foi  any  permanent  arrangements.  He  then 
suggests  whether  the  inhabitants  of  our  late  purchase  beyond 
the  Mississippi,  and  the  National  Legislature,  would  consent  that 
a  portion  of  that  country  should  be  set  apart  for  the  persons 
contemplated.  And  not  yet  seeming  to  despair  of  Africa,  he 
adds,  my  last  information  as  to  Sierra  Leone  is  that  the  company 
was  proposing  to  deliver  up  their  colony  to  the  Government. 
Should  this  take  place  it  might  furnish  an  opportunity  for  -wi 
incorporation  of  ours  into  H.  This  led  to  the  following  resolution 
of  the  House  of  Delegates  on  the  3d  of  December,  1804: 

^^Resolvedy  That  th  senators  of  this  State  in  the  Congress 
of  the  United  States  be  instructed,  and  the  Representatives  be 
requested,  to  ex3rt  their  beet  eftbrts  for  the  purpose  of  obtaining 
from  the  General  Government  a  competent  portion  of  territory 
in  the  country  of  Louii^'ana,  to  be  appropriated  to  the  residence 
c^  such  people  of  color  as  have  been  or  may  be  emancipated  in 
Virginia,  or  may  hereafter  become  dangerous  to  the  pul/lic  safety. 
Provided^  That  no  contract  or  arrangement  respecting  such  terri- 
tory shall  be  obligatory  on  this  Commonwealth,  until  ratified  by 
the  Legislature." 

This  resolution  was  sent  bv  Governor  Page  to  the  Represen- 
tatives of  Virginia. 

Our  difficulties  with  France  and  England  now  supervened, 
and  arrested  at  this  point  these  interesting  proceedings.  But 
there  was  at  least  one  eminent  politician  whose  mind  was  not 
diverted  from  the  contemplation  of  this  subject  by  the  approach- 
ing v...r  with  England.  In  January,  1811,  Mr.  Jefferson  said,  '<I 
have  lon^  ago  made  up  my  mind  upon  this  subject,  and  have  no 
hesitation  in  saying  I  have  ever  thought  it  the  most  desirable 
measure  for  gradually  drawing  off  thia  part  of  our  population. 
Going  from  a  country  possessing  all  the  useful  arts,  they  might 
be  the  means  of  transporting  them  among  the  inhabitants   of 


40 

Africa,  and  would  thus  carry  back  to  the  country  of  their  origin 
the  seed  of  civilization,  which  might  render  their  sojot.rning  here 
a  blessing  in  the  end  to  that  country.     Nothing  is  more  to  be 

WISHED  THAN  THAT  THK  UniTED  StaTES  WOULD  THEMSELVES  UN- 
1)URTAKE    TO    MAKE  SUCH  AN    ESTABLISHMENT   OV    THE    COAST  OF 

Atj-b-ca.  Exclusive  of  motives  of  humanity,  the  commercial 
advantages  to  be  derived  from  it  might  delray  all  its  expenses." 

A  treaty  of  peacf^  having  been  concluded  with  Great  Britain  in 
1S15,  the  public  mind  reverted  with  increased  interest  to  the 
scheme  of  colonization. 

In  the  mean  time  Dr.  Finley,  Bishop  Meade,  Frani-  Key,  &c., 
had  been  anxiously  pondering  the  subjt^ct  of  Afii»an  colonization. 
T' "se,  with  other  per.^ons  of  like  minds,  assembled  ir.  the  city  of 
Washington  on  the  2lHt  of  December  of  the  same  year,  and  re- 
commended the  formation  of  the  American  C<  ionizatic.n  Socit^ty. 

Mr.  Clay  w  >  chairman  of  the  meeting,  and  stirring  addre  ses 
were  made  by  him,  and  by  Messrs.  Caldwell  and  Randolph,  of 
Ro'Hioko.  A  committee  was  appointed  to  pre.-ent  a  memorial  to 
Congress,  asking  their  co-operation;  John  Randolph  wa>*  on  that 
committee.  The  society  held  its  first  meeiing  on  the  17th  of 
January,  1817,  and  elected  its  officers.  Hon.  Bushkoi*  Washing- 
ton was  made  president,  and  among  the  thirteen  vice-presidents 
were  Clay,  Crawford,  Jackson,  and  John  Taylor,  of  Virginia. 
The  committee  of  the  society  prepared  a  memorial  to  Congress, 
which  was  referred  to  a  committee  of  the  House  of  Representa- 
tives, who  made  an  able  report,  concluding  with  resolutions  re- 
commending negotiations  with  the  great  states  of  Europe  for  the 
abolition  of  the  slave  trade,  and  an  application  to  Great  Britain  to 
receive  into  the  colony  of  Sierra  Leone  such  of  the  free  people  of 
color  of  the  United  States  as  should  be  carried  thither.  And  should 
this  proposition  not  be  accepted,  then  to  obtain  from  Great  Britain 
a  stipulation,  guaranteeing  a  permanent  neutrality  to  any  colony 
established  under  the  auspices  of  the  United  States  upon  the  coast 
of  Africa. 


41 


On  the  3d  of  March,  1819,  Congress  passed  an  act,  author- 
izing the  President  of  the  United  States  to  make  such  arrano^e- 
menls  as  he  might  deem  expedient,  for  the  safe  keeping  and  re- 
moval out  of  the  United  States  of  such  persons  of  color  as  might 
be  brought  into  any  of  the  States  under  the  act  abolishing  the  slave 
trade,  and  to  ai>poin^  agents  upon  the  coast  of  Africa  for  receiving 
such  persons.  Agents  were  accordingly  appointed  by  the  Gov- 
ernmei.t,  who,  acting  in  co-oper.vtion  with  the  agents  of  the  so- 
ciety, purchased  territory,  and  established  the  colony.  This  pur- 
chase was  made  in  1822,  by  an  agent  of  the  society,  and  Captain 
Stockton,  of  the  navy,  on  the  part  of  the  Government  of  the  United 
States.  From  that  moment  the  course  of  the  colony  has  been 
steadily  onward,  'through  evil  and  through  good  report,"  until  it 
has  taken  its  place  among  the  independent  nations  of  the  earth, 
under  the  denonination  of  the  "Republic  of  Liberia." 

To  return   from    this   digression   to   Virginia.      An   auxiliary 
society  wa^  formed  in  Richmond  in  November,  1823,  at  the  head 
of  which  was  placed  the  Hon.  John  Marshall,  (clarum  et  venera- 
bile  nomen,)  who  continued  to  preside  over  its  deliberations,  and 
to  guide  it  by  his  wise  counsels,  to  the  day  of  his  lamented  death. 
He  was  succeeded  by  the  Hon.  John  Tvler,  late  President  of  the 
United  States.     The  Richmond  society,  by  its  able  reports,  its 
energetic  agencies,  and  its  stirring  appeals,  was  instrumental  m 
r'ifusifji;  information  and  procuring  contributions,  which  rendered 
v<  >7;     /a'uabie  aid  in  a  time  of  neea  to  the  Parent  Society  at 
WasLh  gton.     It  also  obtained  from  the  Legislature,  in  1825  and 
1828,  donations  in  clothing  nvd  implements  of  agriculture,  which 
supplied  very  opportunely  pressing  wants  tf  the  infant  colony  in 
Africa.     The  Colonization  Society,  at  this  period,  had  a  task  of 
great  celicacy  to  perform.     The  questions  growing  out  of  the  ad- 
mission of  Missouri  into  the  Union  had  fearfully   agitated   the 
I'l'hole  country,  and  threatened  to  overwhelm  this  benevolent  en- 
t    prise  in  ruin;  but  by  following  the  chart  of  her  original  princi- 
ples with  the  strictest  fidelity,  and  steering  between  the  rock  of 
indifferentism  on  the  one  hand,  and  the  whirlpool  of  abolitionism 


4% 

on  tlic  otli(!r,  Hhe  was  enabled,  with  the  blessing  ol  Heaven,  to 
weather  the  .stornri.  At  thin  critical  jiinctuie  were  heard  above  the 
rowing  of  the  tempest  of  fanaticism  the  voices  of  her  gallant 
commandorH,  Madison  and  Marshall,  cheering  her  onward  in  her 
noble  mission. 

Mr.  Madison,  in  a  letter  dated  Jan.  16,  1832,  said,  **  the  So- 
ciety had  always  my  t)est  wishes,  although  with  hopes  of  success 
less  sanguine  than  those  entertained  by  others  found  to  be  better 
judges,  and  I  feel  the  greatest  pleasure  at  the  progress  already 
made  by  the  Socit'ty,  and  the  encour^qjement  to  encounter  remain- 
ing dilliculties  afforded  by  the  greater  ■  i  lier  difficulties  already 
overcome.  I  cherish  the  hope  that  the  e  will  come  when  the 
dr(*adfid  calamity  which  has  so  long  afflicted  our  country,  and 
filled  so  many  with  despair,  will  be  gradually  removed,  and  by 
means  consistent  with  justice,  peace,  and  the  general  satisfaction; 
thus  giving  to  our  country  the  full  enjoyment  of  the  blessings  of 
liberty,  and  to  the  world  the  full  benefit  of  its  great  example." 

Judge  Marshall,  in  the  same  year,  said,  the  removal  of  our 
colored  population  is  a  common  object,  by  no  means  confined  to 
the  ^lave  States,  although  they  are  more  immediately  interested  in 
it.  The  whole  Union,  he  adds,  would  be  strengthened  by  it,  and 
relieved  from  a  danger  whose  extent  can  be  scarcely  estimated. 
Here  we  have  the  authority  of  the  "father  of  the  Constitution," 
anil  its  greatest  expouiuler,  both  of  whom  thought  the  object  con- 
templatt'd  by  the  Colonization  Society  so  important  that  it  de- 
manileil  the  inttrposilion  of  ihe  General  Government,  and  both 
regariie(f  the  public  iamis  as  a  proper  resource  oj  effecting  it. 

(General  Brodnax,  in  the  session  of  1832  and  1833,  reported  a 
bill  devising  ways  and  means  for  deporting  free  negroes,  and  such 
as  nuiy  become  free  in  Virginia,  to  Liberia.  The  bill  proposed 
an  appropriation  of  $3r>,000  for  the  present  year,  and  $90,000 
for  the  next,  to  be  applied  to  this  purpose.  It  passed  the  House 
of  Delegates,  but  was  lost  in  the  Senate.     Notwithstanding  this 


't^ 


43 


discouragement,  the  subject  was  again  moved,  and  on  the  4th 
of  March,  1833,  an  act  passed  the  Legislature,  appropriating 
f>18,000,  and  constituting  the  Governor,  Lieutenant  Governor, 
and  1st  and  2d  Auditors,  a  board  of  commissioners  for  carrying 
its  provisions  into  effect.  This  act,  as  was  predicted  at  the  time, 
was  rendered  utterly  inefficient  by  the  restrictions  with  which  it 
was  encumbered. 

In  1837,  the  Board  of  Managers  of  the  Virginia  Society, 
seconded  by  petitions  from  several  auxiliary  societies,  presented 
a  memorial  to  the  Legislature,  asking  for  an  act  of  incorporation, 
and  an  amendment  of  the  act  of  1833,  so  as  to  make  its  provi- 
sions available;  and  on  the  13th  of  February,  of  the  same  year, 
the  report  of  the  select  committee,  declaring  these  petitions  rea- 
sonable, was  agreed  to  by  the  House  of  Delegates,  and  a  bill 
ordered.  For  want  of  time,  or  some  other  cause  not  known,  this 
bill  did  not  become  a  law.  And  now,  in  18.50,  Mr.  Dorman  has 
reported  a  bill  to  the  same  end,  founded  upon  the  recommenda- 
tion in  the  message  of  Governor  Floyd. 

Such  is  believed  to  be  a  just  account  of  the  history  of  the  idea 
of  colonizing  our  people  of  color ,  from  its  first  conception  until  its 
full  development  in  the  American  Colonization  Society.  It  is  not 
within  the  scope  of  this  address  to  write  the  history  of  that 
Society — its  unparalleled  success  is  not  now  questioned  by  any 
unprejudiced  man.  Mi.  Gurley,  who  was  commissioned  by  the 
General  Government  to  visit  Liberia  and  investigate  its  condition, 
is  just  returned,  and  is  now  preparing  an  elaborate  report,  illus- 
trating the  commercial  and  other  interests  of  that  young  Republic; 
his  testimony  to  its  present  prosperi'j  and  the  greatness  of  its 
future  prospects  is  most  decisive  and  encouraging.  Neither  is  it 
a  part  of  my  plan  to  cite  the  authority  or  acts  of  the  several 
State  Legislatures,  fourteen  of  which  have  given  the  Society  their 
approbation;  and  one,  Maryland,  has  made  it  a  part  of  her  per- 
manent policy,  by  establishing  and  cherishing  with  annual  appro- 
priations the  colony  of  Maryland  in  Liberia.     Nor  will  I  now 


44 

insift  upon  the  ben«fits,  social,  political,  and  moral,  that  are  con- 
ferred by  this  Society  upon  the  white  race  in  America,  and  upon 
the  black  race  upon  both  continents.  Let  it  huffice  to  say  that 
we  have  in  our  mid^t,  in  the  persons  of  our  free  colored  people, 
an  evil  of  enormous  magnitude.  That  this  evil  has  increased,  is 
increasing,  and  ought  to  be  diminished,  evcry  body  admits.  When 
Mr.  Jefferson  proposed  his  plan  of  colonization,  there  were  only 
about  10,000  free  negroes  in  Virginia — now  the  number  is  esti- 
mated at  60,000,  and  is  increasing." 


JOINT  RESOLUTION  for  abolishing  the  traffic  in  slaves,  and  for  the  coloniza. 
tion  of  the  free  people  of  color  of  the  United  States  — Proposed  February  II, 
1817,  by  a  committee  of  the  Hi'use  of  Representatives. 

Resolved  by  the  Senate  and  House  of  Representatives  of  the  United 
States  of  j9 met ica  in  Cong/  ess  as.sembhd.  That  the  President  be,  and 
he  is  hereby,  authorized  to  consult  and  negot-'afe  with  all  the  Gov- 
ernments where  ministers  of  the  United  Slates  aiv  or  shall  be  ac- 
credited, on  the  means  of  effecting  an  enire  and  immediate  abo- 
i*  iOn  of  the  traflic  in  slave-.  And,  also,  to  enter  into  a  conven- 
tion with  th"?  Government  of  Great  Britain  for  receivii)g  into  the 
colony  of  Sierra  Leone  such  of  the  free  people  of  color  of  ihe 
United  States  as,  with  their  own  consent,  shall  be  carried  thither; 
r-lipulating  such  terms  as  shall  be  most  beneficial  to  the  colonists, 
while  it  promotes  the  peaceful  interests  of  Great  Britain  and  the 
United  States.  And  should  this  proposition  not  be  accepted,  then 
to  obtain  from  Great  Britam  and  the  other  maritime  powers  a  stip- 
ulation, or  a  formal  declaration  to  the  same  effect,  guarantying  a 
permanent  neutrality  for  any  colony  of  free  people  of  color  which, 
at  the  expense  and  under  the  auspices  of  the  United  States,  shall 
be  established  on  the  African  coast. 

Resolved,  That  adequate  provision  shall  hereafter  be  made  to 
defray  any  necessary  expenses  which  may  be  incurred  in  carry- 
ing the  preceding  resolution  into  effect. 

Note. — No  proceeding  took  place  in  the  House  on  these  reso- 
lutions at  this  session. 


{ 


M 


45 

The  committee  consisted  of  Mr.  Pickering,  Mr.  Comstock,  Mr. 
Condict,  Mr.  Tucker,  Mr.  Taggart,  Mr.  CilUy,  and  Mr.  Hooks, 
on  colonizing  the  free  people  of  color  of  the  United  States. 


Nineteenth  Congress,  first  Session, 

Februury  18,  1825. 

The  following  resolution  was  submitted  io  the  Senate  of  the 

United  States,  by  Mr.  Rufuh  King,  of  New  York: 

Resohetf,  That,  as  soon  as  the  portion  of  ihe  existing  funded 
debt  of  the  United  States,  for  the  payment  of  which  the  public 
land  of  the  United  States  is  pledged,  >-hall  have  been  paid  off, 
then,  and  thenceforth,  the  whole  of  the  public  land  of  the  United 
States,  with  the  nett  proceeds  of  all  future  ^ales  thereof,  shall  con- 
stitute or  form  a  fund,  which  is  hereby  appropriated;  and  the  faith 
of  the  United  States  is  pledged  that  the  said  fund  shall  be  invio- 
lably applied  to  aid  the  emancipation  of  such  slaves,  within  any 
of  the  United  States,  and  aid  the  removal  of  such  slaves,  and  the 
removal  of  such  free  people  of  color,  in  any  of  the  said  States, 
aSf  by  the  laws  of  ihe  States,  respectively,  may  be  allowed  to  be 
emancipated  or  removed,  to  any  territory  or  country  without  the 
limits  of  the  United  States  of  America. 

Extract  of  a  letter  from  the  Hon.  James  Madison  to  the  secretary  of 
the  society,  ihe  Rev.  R.  R.  Gurley. 

MoNTPELiER,  December  29,  1831. 

Dear  sir:  I  received  in  due  time  your  letter  of  the  21fet  ultimo, 
and  with  due  sensibility  to  the  subject  of  it.  Such,  however,  has 
been  the  effect  of  a  painful  rheumatism  on  my  general  condition, 
as  well  as  in  disqualifying  my  fingers  for  the  use  cf  the  pen,  that 
I  could  not  do  justice  *'to  the  principles  and  mfasures  of  the 
Colonization  b  ociety,  in  all  the  great  and  various  relations  they 
sustain  to  our  own  country  and  to  Africa,"  if  my  views  of  them 
could  have  the  value  which  your  partiality  suppos^es.  I  may  ob^ 
serve,  in  brief,  that  the  society  had  always  my  good  wishes, 


46 


though  with  hopes  of  its  success  less  sanguine  than  were  enter- 
tained by  others,  ''lund  to  have  been  the  better  judges;  and  that 
I  feel  the  greatest  pleasure  at  the  progress  already  made  by  the 
society,  and  the  encouragement  to  encounter  remaining  difficul- 
ties afforded  by  the  earlier  and  greater  ones  already  overcome. 
Many  circumstances  at  the  present  moment  seem  to  concur  in 
brightening  the  prospects  of  the  society,  and  cherishing  the  hope 
that  the  time  will  come  when  the  dreadful  calamity  which  has  so 
long  afflicted  our  country,  and  filled  so  many  with  despair,  will  be 
gradually  removed,  and  by  means  consistent  with  ju.-'tice,  peace, 
and  the  general  satisfaction;  thus  giving  to  our  country  the  full 
enjoyment  of  the  blessings  c*"  liberty,  and  to  the  world  the  full 
benefit  of  its  great  example.  I  never  considered  the  main  diffi- 
culty of  the  great  work  as  lying  in  the  deficiency  of  emancipation, 
but  in  an  inadequacy  of  asylums  for  such  a  growing  mass  of  pop- 
ulation, and  in  the  great  expense  of  removing  it  to  its  new  home. 
The  spirit  of  private  manumissions,  as  the  laws  may  permit  and 
the  exiles  may  consent,  is  increasing,  and  will  increase;  and  there 
are  sufficient  indications  that  the  public  authorities  in  slavehold- 
ing  States  are  looking  forward  to  interpositions  in  different  forms, 
that  must  have  a  poweiful  effect.  With  respect  to  the  new  abode 
for  the  emigrants,  all  agree  that  the  choice  made  by  the  society  is 
rendered  peculiarly  appropriate  by  considerations  which  need  not 
be  repeated;  and,  if  other  situations  should  not  be  found  eligible 
receptacles  for  a  portion  of  them,  the  prospects  in  Africa  seem  to 
be  expanding  in  a  highly  encouraging  degree. 

In  contemplating  the  pecuniary  resources  needed  for  the  re- 
moval of  such  a  number  to  so  great  a  distance,  my  thoughts  and 
hopes  ha"e  been  long  turned  to  the  rich  fund  presented  in  the 
western  lands  of  our  nation,  which  will  soon  entirely  cease  to  be 
under  a  pledge  for  another  object.  The  great  one  in  question  is 
truly  of  a  national  character,  and  it  is  known  that  distinguished 
patriots,  not  dwelling  in  slaveholding  States,  have  viewed  the  ob- 
ject in  that  light,  and  would  be  willing  to  let  the  national  domain 
be  a  resource  in  effecting  it. 

Should  it  be  remarked  that  the  States,  though  all  may  be  in- 


47 

ierested  in  relieving  our  country  from  the  colored  population,  are 
not  all  equally  so,  it  is  but  fair  to  recollect  that  the  sections  most 
to  be  benefitted  are  those  whose  cessions  created  the  fund  to  be 
disposed  of. 


Extract  of  a  letter  from  the  Hon.  John  Marsha/ly  Chief  Justice  of 
the  United  iitafes,  to  the  Rev.  R.  R.  Gut  fey,  dated 

Richmond,  December  14,  1831. 

The  great  object  of  the  society,  I  presume,  is  to  obtain  pe- 
cuniary aids.  Application  will  undoubtedly  be  made,  I  hope 
successfully,  to  the  several  State  legi-latures,  by  the  societies 
formed  within  tliem,  respectively.  It  is  extremely  desirable  that 
they  should  pass  permanent  laws  on  the  subject;  and  the  excite- 
ment produced  by  the  late  insurreciion  makes  this  a  favorable 
moment  for  the  friends  of  the  colony  to  press  for  such  acts.  It 
would  be  also  desirable,  if  such  a  direction  could  be  given  to  Slate 
legislation,  as  might  have  some  tendency  to  incline  the  people  of 
color  to  migrate.  This,  however,  is  a  subject  of  much  delicacy. 
Whatever  may  be  the  success  of  our  endeavors  to  obtain  acts  for 
permanent  aids,  I  have  no  doubt  that  our  applications  for  imme- 
diate contributions  will  receive  attention.  It  is  possible,  though 
not  probable,  that  more  people  of  color  may  be  dispo-ed  to  migrate, 
than  can  be  provided  for  with  the  funds  the  society  may  be  ena- 
bled to  command.  Under  this  impression  I  suggested,  some  years 
past,  to  one  or  two  of  the  board  of  managers,  to  allow  a  small  ad- 
ditional bounty  in  lands  to  tho?e  who  would  pay  their  own  pas- 
sage, in  whole  or  in  part.  The  suggestion,  however,  was  not 
approved. 

It  is  undoubtedly  of  great  importance  to  retain  the  countenance 
and  protection  of  the  General  Government.  Some  of  our  cruisers 
stationed  on  the  coast  of  Africa  would,  at  the  same  time,  interrupt 
the  slave  trade — a  horrid  traffic,  detested  by  all  good  men — and 
would  protect  the  vessels  and  commerce  of  the  colony  from  pirates 


48 

who  infoMt  tlioflo  seas.  The  power  of  the  fJovcrnment  to  aflbrd 
this  aid  la  not,  I  b(;lieve,  coiitehted.  I  regret  that  its  pov^er  to 
grant  pe(  uniary  aid  is  not  etjually  free  from  question.  On  this 
Huhject  I  have  always  fhoiij^ht,  and  still  think,  that  the  proposi- 
tion made  by  Mr.  Kinj?,  in  the  Senate,  is  the  most  unexception- 
able, and  the  most  efTective,  that  can  be  devised. 

The  fund  would  probably  operate  as  rapidly  as  would  be  desira- 
ble, when  we  take  into  view  the  other  resources  which  might 
come  in  aid  of  it;  and  its  application  would  be,  perhaps,  less  ex- 
posed to  those  constitutional  objections  which  are  made  in  the 
South,  than  the  application  of  money  drawn  from  the  trcar-ury 
and  raised  by  taxed.  The  lands  are  the  property  of  the  United 
States,  and  have  heretofore  been  disposed  of  by  the  Government, 
under  the  idea  of  absolute  ownerbhip. 


JIcls  and  Resolutions  of  State  Legislatures  in  relation  to 

Colonization. 

STATE    OF    VERMONT. 

Vermont  Legislature^  Mov.  1*,  1827. 

On  the  petition  of  the  Vermont  Colonization  Society,  the  com- 
mittee reported  a  resolution,  instructing  their  Senators  and  Mem- 
bers in  Congress  to  use  thf  ir  exertions  in  procuring  the  pai>sage 
of  a  law  in  aid  of  the  objects  of  the  society;  which  was  read  and 
adopted. 


STATE    OF    MASSACHUSETTS. 

Resolutions,  1831. 

1.  Resolved,  That  the  Legislature  of  Massachusetts  view  with 
great  interest  the  efforts  made  by  the  American  Colonizs»tion  So- 
ciety, in  establishing  an  asylum  on  the  coast  of  Africa  for  the  free 
people  of  color  of  the  United  States;  and  that,  in  the  opinion  of 
this  Legislature,  it  is  a  subject  eminet  fly  deserving  the  attention 
and  aid  of  Congress,  so  far  as  khall  be  coni-istent  with  the  powers 


49 

of  Congress,  the  rights  of  the  several  States  of  the  Union,  and  the 
rights  of  the  individuals  who  are  the  objects  of  tiiose  etiorts. 

2.  Resolved,  That  our  Senators  and  Representatives  in  Congress 
be,  and  they  are  hereby,  requested,  in  the  name  of  the  State  of 
Massachusetts,  to  solicit  the  assistance  of  the  (Jeneral  (lovern- 
ment  to  aid  the  laudable  designs  of  that  society,  in  such  manner 
as  Congress,  in  its  wisdom,  may  deem  expedient,  and  is  consist- 
ent with  the  provisions  of  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States. 


STATE    OF    NEW    YORK. 

Resolutions  of  the  Senate,  Jlpril  13,  1832. 

Mr.  Tallmadge,  from  the  select  committee  to  which  was  re- 
ferred the  memorials  of  the  State  Colonization  Society,  and  of 
William  A.  Duer  and  others,  of  the  city  of  New  York,  reported 
the  following  resolutions,  which  were  unanimously  adopted: 

Resolved,  That  the  Senate  applaud  the  motives,  and  api)rove 
the  objects,  of  the  American  Colonization  Society,  and  have  full 
confidence  in  the  fidelity,  discretion,  and  ability,  of  its  executive 
officers . 

Resolved,  That,  as  the  said  society  proposes  to  remove  or  miti- 
gate existing  evils,  and  prevent  or  diminish  apprehended  dangers, 
it  deserves  the  confidence  and  encouragement  of  the  American 
people. 

Resolved,  That  the  Senate  commend  the  said  society  to  the  con- 
sideration and  patronage  of  the  citizens  of  this  State. 

Resolved,  That  these  resolutions  be  transmitted  to  the  honora- 
ble the  Assembly,  for  their  consideration. 

The  resolutions  passed  the  House  of  Assembly  with  hardly  a 
dissenting  voice. 


50 


STATE  OF  PENNSYLVANIA. 

Resolution,  1829. 

Be  it  resolved  by  the  Senate  and  House  of  Representniives  of  the 
Commonwealth  of  Pennsylvania  in  General  Jhsemhly  met,  That,  in 
the  opinion  of  this  (icncral  AsHembly,  the  American  Colonization 
Society  eminently  deserves  the  support  of  the  National  CJovern- 
ment;  and  that  our  Senators  be  directed,  and  that  the  Represent- 
atives in  Congress  be  requested,  to  aid  the  same  by  all  proper  and 
constitutional  means. 


STATE  OF  DELAWARE. 

Resolutions. 

Resolved  by  the  Senate  and  House  of  Representatives  of  the  State 
of  Delaware  in  General  ^Issembly  met.  That  it  is  requisite  for  our 
prosperity,  and,  what  is  of  more  important  concern,  essential  to 
our  safety,  that  measures  should  be  taken  for  the  removal  from 
this  country  of  the  free  negroes  and  free  mulatloes. 

Resolved,  That  this  General  Assembly  approve  the  objects  of 
the  American  Colonization  Society,  and  consider  that  these  objects 
deserve  public  support,  and  that  they  ought  to  be  fostered  and 
encouraged  by  the  National  Government,  and  with  the  national 
funds. 

Resolved,  That  the  Senators  of  this  State  in  Congress,  with  the 
Representative  from  this  State,  be  requested  to  approve  and  pro- 
mote, in  the  councils  of  the  nation,  measures  for  removing  from 
this  country  to  Africa  the  free  colored  population  who  maybe 
willing  to  emigrate. 

Resolved,  That  the  Speakers  of  the  two  Houses  be  requested 
officially  to  sign  these  resolutions,  and  forward  a  copy  to  each  of 
our  Senators,  and  a  copy  to  our  Representative  in  Congress. 


&1 


STATE    OF    MARYLAND. 

Resolution  of  the  Home  of  Delegates^  1818. 

Bir  THE  House  of  Delegates,  Jan.  26,  1818. 
ResolveJy  unnnimously^  That  the  Governor  be  requested  to  com- 
municate to  the  President  of  the  United  States,  and  to  our  Sena- 
tors and  Representatives  in  Congress,  the  opinion  of  this  General 
Assembly,  that  a  wise  and  provident  policy  suggests  the  expe- 
diency, on  the  part  of  our  National  Government,  of  procuring, 
through  negotiation,  by  cession  or  purchase,  a  tract  of  country, 
on  the  western  coast  of  Africa,  for  the  cc'onization  of  the  free 
people  of  color  of  the  United  States. 


STATE  OF  VIRGINIA. 

Preamble  and  resolution,   1816. 

Whereas  the  General  Assembly  of  Virginia  have  repeatedly 
sought  to  obtain  an  asylum,  beyond  the  limits  of  the  United  States, 
for  such  persons  of  color  as  had  been,  or  might  be,  emancipated 
under  the  laws  of  this  Commonwealth,  but  have  hitherto  found 
all  their  efforts  for  the  accomplishment  of  this  desirable  purpose 
frustrated,  cither  by  the  disturbed  state  of  other  nations,  or  do- 
mestic causes  equally  unpropitious  in  its  success,  they  do  now 
avail  themselves  of  a  period  when  peace  has  healed  the  wounds 
of  humanity,  and  the  principal  nations  of  Europe  have  concurred 
with  the  Government  of  the  United  States  in  abolishing  the  Afri- 
can slave  trade,  (a  traffic  which  this  Commonwealth,  both  before 
and  since  the  Revolution,  zealously  sought  to  terminate,)  to  renew 
this  effort;  and  do,  therefore. 

Resolve,  That  the  Executive  be  requested  to  correspond  with 
the  President  of  the  United  States,  for  the  purpose  of  obtainino*  a 
territory  on  the  coast  of  Africa,  or  at  some  other  place  not  withia 
any  of  the  States  or  Territorial  Governments  of  the  United  States, 
to  serve  as  an  asylum  for  such  persons  of  color  as  are  now  free, 
and  may  desire  the  same,  and  for  those  who  may  hereafter  be 


52 

emancipated  within  this  Commonwealth;  and  that  the  Senators 
and  Representatives  of  this  State  in  the  Congress  of  the  United 
States,  be  requested  to  exert  their  best  efforts  to  aid  the  Piesident 
oi  the  United  States  in  the  attainment  of  the  above  olyect:  Pro- 
videdy  That  no  contract  or  arrangement  respecting  such  territory 
shall  be,  obligatory  on  this  Commonwealth  until  ratified  by  the 
legislature. 

Passed  by  the  House  of  Delegates,  December  15th;  by  the 
Senate,  with  an  amendment,  December  20th;  concurred  in  by 
the  House  of  Delegates,  December  21,  1816. 

STATE   OF    LOUISIANA. 

1834. 
A  resolution,  recently  presented  to  this  body,  proposing  the  ap- 
pointment of  a  joint  committee  to  take  into  consideration  the  ex- 
pediency of  promoting  the  emigration  of  free  people  of  color  from 
that  State  to  Liberia,  was  adopted  by  a  vote  of  twenty -two  against 
eleven. 


STATE    OP   TENNESSEE. 

Report  and  resolution,   1818. 

Your  committee  are  of  opinion  that  such  parts  of  said  memorials 
and  petitions  as  ask  this  General  Assembly  to  aid  the  Federal 
Government  in  devising  and  executing  a  plan  for  colonizing-,  in 
some  distant  country,  the  free  people  of  color  in  the  United  States, 
are  reasonable:  and,  for  the  purpose  of  effecting  the  object  which 
they  have  in  view,  the  committee  have  draughted  a  resolution, 
which  accompanies  this  report,  the  adoption  of  which  they  would 
recommend. 

L'\  Willis,  from  the  same  committee,  submitted  the  following 
resolution,  which  was  read  and  adopted: 

Resolved  by  the  General  Assembly  of  the  State  of  Tennessee-.  That 
the  Senators  in  Congress  from  this  State  be,  and  they  a»e  hereby, 
instructed,  and  that  the  Represe">tatives  be,  and  they  are  hereby, 
requested,  to  give  to  the  Governnent  of  the  United  States  any 


53 

aid  in  their  power  in  devising  and  carrying  into  effect  a  plan  which 
may  have  for  its  object  the  colonizing,  in  some  distant  country, 
the  free  people  of  color  who  are  within  the  limits  of  the  United 
States,  or  within  the  limits  of  any  of  their  Territories. 


STATE  OF  KENTUCKY. 

Report  and  resolutions,  1827. 
The  committee  to  whom  was  referred  the  memorial  of  the  Amer- 
ican Colonization  Society,  have  had  that  subject  under  conside- 
ration, and  now  report: 

That,  upon  due  consideration  of  the  said  memorial,  and  from 
all  other  information  which  your  committee  has  obtained  touching 
that  subject,  they  are  fully  satisfied  that  no  jealousies  ought  to 
exist,  on  the  part  of  this  or  any  other  slaveholding  State,  respect- 
ing the  objects  of  this  society,  or  the  effects  of  its  laboi. 

Your  committee  are  further  well  assured  that  the  benevolent 
and  humane  purposes  of  the  society,  and  the  political  effects  of 
those  purposes,  are  worthy  the  highest  consideration  of  all  philan- 
thropists and  statesmen  in  the  Union,  whether  they  be  citizens  of 
slaveholding  or  non-slaveholding  States.  It  is  believed  by  your 
committee  that  the  memorial  itself  is  well  calculated  to  present 
the  subject  in  a  proper  point  of  view,  and  to  interest  the  public 
mind  in  the  laudaule  objects  of  that  society.  They,  therefore, 
refer  to  the  same  as  a  part  of  this  report.  Your  committee  recom- 
mend the  adoption  of  the  following  resolutions: 

Resolved  by  the  General  Assembly  of  the  Commonwealth  of  Ken- 
tucky, That  they  view,  with  deep  and  friendly  interest,  the  exer- 
tions of  the  American  Colonization  Society  ia  establishing  an 
asylum  on  the  coast  of  Africa  for  the  free  ^>eolp\e  of  color  of  the 
United  States;  and  that  the  Senators  and  Representatives  in  Con- 
gress from  this  State  be,  and  they  are  hereby,  requested  .o  use 
their  efforts  to  facilitate  the  removal  of  such  free  persons  of  color 
as  may  desire  to  emigrate  from  the  United  States  to  the  colony  in 
Africa,  and  to  ensure  to  them  the  protection  and  patronage  of  the 


54 

General  Government,  so  far  as  shall  be  deemed  consistent  with 
the  safety  and  interest  of  the  United  States. 

Resolved,  That  the  Governor  be  requested  to  transmit  a  copy  of 
the  foregoing  resolution  to  each  of  our  Senators  and  Representa- 
tives in  Congress. 

Joint  resolutions. 

During  the  yijar  1828  the  following  joint  resolutions  passed  the 
Senate  of  Kentucky,  with  only  three  dissenting  voices: 

Resolved,  Sfc,  That  our  Senators  and  Representatives  in  Con- 
gress be  requested  to  use  their  best  endeavors  to  procure  an  ap- 
propriation of  ffioney  of  Congress  to  aid,  so  far  as  is  consistent 
wiih  the  [Constitution  of  the]  United  States,  in  colonizing  the  free 
people  of  color  of  the  United  States  in  Africa,  under  the  direction 
of  the  President  of  the  United  States. 

2.  That  the  Governor  of  this  State  be  requested  to  transmit  a 
copy  of  the  foregoing  resolution  to  each  of  our  Senators  and  Rep- 
resentatives in  Congress,  and  to  the  Governors  of  the  several 
States. 


ST/.TE    OF   INDIANA. 

Preamble  and  Joint  resolutions,  1829. 

Whereas  the  members  of  the  present  General  Assembly  of  the 
State  of  Indiana  view  with  unqualified  approbation  the  continued 
exertions  of  ihe  American  Colonization  Society  to  ameliorate  the 
condition  of  the  colored  population  of  our  country,  and  believing 
that  the  cause  of  humanity  and  the  true  interest  of  the  United 
States  require  the  removal  of  this  people  from  amongst  us  more 
speedily  than  the  ability  of  the  Colonization  Society  will  permit: 

Be  it  resolved  by  the  General  Assembly  of  ihe  State  of  Indiana, 
That  our  Senators  and  Representatives  in  Congress  be,  and  they 
are  hereby,  requested,  in  the  name  of  the  State  of  Indiana,  to 
solicit  the  assistance  of  the  General  Government  to  aid  the 
laudable  designs  of  the  Colonization  Society,  in  such  manner  as 
Congress  in  its  wisdom  may  deem  expedient. 


55 

Reaofved,  That  the  Governor  be,  and  ae  is  heieby,  requested 
to  forward  a  copy  of  the  foregoing  resolution  to  our  Senators  and 
Representatives  in  Congress. 

STATE    OF   ILLINOIS. 

Joint  resolutions  of  the  Illinois  Legislature  to  transport  the  free 

persons  of  color  from  the  United  States  to  Africa;  j^assed  session 

o/1847-'8. 

Whereas  efforts  have  been  made  to  create  the  impression  that 
the  citizens  of  the  free  States  desire  to  interfere  with  the  institu- 
tion of  slavery  in  the  States  where  it  exists  by  law;  and  whereas 
such  efforts  are  likely  to  create  discord  and  jealousy  among  the 
several  States,  and  weaken  the  bonds  of  our  glorious  Union;  and 
whereas  we  desire  most  earnestly  to  undeceive  our  brethren  of 
the  Southern  States  on  the  subject,  and  manifest  our  fraternal 
regard  for  them,  and  to  contribute  all  in  our  power  to  assist  in 
relieving  them  of  the  burden  of  slavery,  in  the  manner  best  suited 
to  their  feelings  and  interests;  therefore, 

Be  it  resolved  by  the  Senate,  the  House  of  Representatives  concur- 
ring herein,  That  our  Senators  in  Congrr  be  instructed,  and  our 
Representatives  requested,  to  employ  all  constitutional  means  in 
their  power  to  procure  ample  resources  by  thi;  Federal  Govern- 
ment to  remove  all  such  free  persons  of  color  as  can  be  induced 
to  emigrate  to  Liberia,  or  elsewhere  in  Africa,  and  to  provide  for 
their  necessary  wants. 

Resolved,  That  the  Governor  be  requested  to  transmit  a  opy 
of  the  above  preamble  and  resolution  to  each  of  our  Senators  and 
Representatives,  with  a  request  that  the  subject  be  brought  before 
Congress. 

JVb/c— New  Jersey,  Connecticut,  and  several  other  States 
have  adopted  re?olutions  similar  to  the  above;  and  in  most  of 
them  the  resolutions  have  been  repeated  from  time  to  time,  down 
to  a  recent  date. 


56 

Extracts  from  the  report  of  the  Committee  of  the  House  of  Repre- 
.^entatives  on  Commerce  on  the  subject  of  African  Colonization. 
Feb.  28,  1843. 

The  necessity  of  making  some  provision  for  the  colonization 
and  settlement  of  the  free  colored  population  of  this  country  be- 
gan, at  an  early  period,  to  attract  the  attention  of  the  public. 
During  the  administration  of  Mr.  Jefferson,  the  State  of  Virginia 
made  an  application  to  the  General  Government  for  aid  in  this 
purpose.  That  Stale  desired  to  originate  some  measure  which 
should  provide  an  asylum  for  this  population,  either  on  the  coast  of 
Africa,  or  in  some  other  appropriate  region  beyond  the  limits  of 
the  Union.  Resolutions  were  more  than  once  adopted  by  its 
Legislature,  eiKpressive  of  the  interest  which  the  St5».te  felt  in  the 
subject,  and  of  the  importance  attached  to  it;  and  at  length  the 
Gk)vernor  was  directed,  in  1816,  when  Dr.  Finley  was  employed 
at  Washington  in  his  memorable  enterprise  of  establishing  the 
American  Colonization  Society,  to  correspond  with  the  President 
for  the  promotion  of  that  design.  The  assistance  of  the  Senators 
and  Representatives  of  the  State  was  invoked  to  the  same  end. 

The  Society  was  founded  in  December,  1816.  It  comprised 
many  eminent  individuals  from  the  several  Sates;  was  character- 
ized by  its  freedom  from  sectional  distinctions;  enlisted  the  aid  of 
men  from  every  quarter  of  the  Union;  and  was  generally  received 
and  applauded  as  a  beneficent  and  highly  national  undertaking. 

Its  design,  as  set  forth  in  an  article  of  its  constitution,  was 
to  act  "in  co-operation  with  the  General  Government  and  such 
of  the  States  as  might  adopt  regulations  on  the  subject."  Vir- 
ginia, Maryland,  Tennessee,  and  Georgia  were  the  first  to  respona 
to  the  invitation  invoking  their  assistance.  They  passed  resolu- 
tions recommending  the  subject  to  the  country,  and  generally 
announced  their  accordance  in  the  opinion,  expre.'-sed  by  Mr. 
Jefferson,  that  it  was  desirable  the  United  States  should  undertake 
the  colonization  of  the  free  people  of  color  on  the  coast  of  Africa. 


About  half  the  States  of  the  Union  have  expressed  their  de- 


57 

cided  approbation  of  the  scheme  of  African  colonization,  and  the 
citizens  and  Legisialuie  of  Maryland  have  proceeded  to  plant  a 
flourishing  colony  at  Cape  Palmas.    Through  the  efforts  and  under 
the  influence   of  the   American   Colonization    Society,    nearly 
twenty  eligible  tracts  of  country  have  been  purchased  between 
Cape  Mount  and  Cape  Palmas,  and  on  many  of  them  promising 
settlements  established.     The  enterprise  is  demonstrated  to  be 
practicable,  and  capable  of  indefinite  extension.     Though  the 
colonies  embrace  but  a  few  thousand  emigrants,  their  salutary 
influence  is  widely  felt,  and  many  thousands  of  the  native  popu- 
lation have  sought  their  protection,  submitted  to  their  laws,  and 
enjoy  the  advantages  of  their  instruction.     Able  and  disinterested 
citizens  of  the  United  States  have,  from  time  to  time,  devoted 
themselves  to  their  interests,  and,  under  the  authority  of  the 
colonization  societies,  have   assisted  them  to  frame  their  social 
institutions,  their  government  and  laws.     They  exhibit  to  the 
eyes  of  a  barbarous  people  the  model  of  a  free,  temperate,  in- 
dustrious, civilized,  and  Christian  society.     They  have  legislative 
assemblies,  courts  of  justice,    schools,    and   churches.     Though 
having  enjoyed  in  this  country  but  very  imperfect  means  of  im- 
provement, and  left  it  with  small  means,  they  have  done  much 
for  themselves,  and  much  for  civilization  and  Christianity — have 
enacted  laws  for  the  extirpation  of  the  slave  trade,  and,  wherever 
their  rightful  authority  exists,  executed  them  with  vigor;  they 
have  successfully  engaged  in  agriculture  and  in  lawful  commerce; 
they  have  opened  the  way  for  many  Christian  missionaries,  of 
different  communions,  to  the  heathen  tribes,  and  afforded  them 
protection  and  facilities  in  their  work.     In  fine,  Liberia  and  the 
Maryland  settlement  at  Cape  Palmas  present  themselves  to  this 
country  and  the  world,  not  only  as  eligible  asylums  for  our  free 
colored  population,  and  for  such  as  may  become  free,  but  as 
lepublican  and  Christian  States,   informed  by  the  elements  of 
indefinite  growth  and  improvement,  capable,  duly  countenanced, 
and  guarded  against  the  interference  of  unfriendly  powers,  of 
rising  to  honor  and  greatness,  and  of  diffusing  the  influence  of  its 
laws  and  example  over  wide  districts  of  Africa. 


58 

The  annual  imports  from  western  Africa  into  this  country  pro- 
bably exceed  a  million  of  dollars,  and  into  Great  Britain  are  about 
four  millions.  The  palm  oil  trade,  now  becoming  of  great  value, 
had  hardly  an  existence  twelve  years  ago,  is  rapidly  increasing, 
and  may  be  increased  to  an  almost  indefinite  extent.  Hitherto, 
the  slave  trade  has  been  at  war  with  all  improvement  and  every 
kind  of  innocent  commerce.  Its  cessation  will  be  succeeded  by 
the  cultivation  of  the  soil,  and  the  growth  of  trade  in  all  the  va- 
ried and  valuable  productions  of  the  African  climate.  It  is  of 
infinite  importance  that  the  natives  of  Africa  should  be  con- 
vinced that  agricultural  labor,  and  the  substitution  of  lawful  trade 
for  the  infamous  commerce  in  human  beings,  will  be  for  their  ad- 
vantage; and  that,  in  their  intercourse  with  them,  our  own  mer- 
chants should  possess  every  privilege  granted  to  those  of  Eng- 
land, or  any  other  nation. 

The  establishment  of  a  commercial  agency,  (as  recommended 
by  Dr.  Hall,)  to  reside  in  Liberia,  and  occasionally  to  visit,  in  a 
Government  vessel,  various  points  on  the  coast,  to  ascertain  the 
best  sites  for  mercantile  establishments,  to  form  conventions  and 
treaties  of  commerce,  and  for  the  suppression  of  the  slave  trade 
with  the  principal  chiefs,  to  take  charge  of  the  stores  and  other 
property  sent  out  for  our  ships  of  war,  to  guard  the  rights  and 
interests  of  our  seamen,  and  secure  for  American  vessels  a  free 
and  unrestrained  right  of  trade  at  all  important  stations,  the  com- 
mittee would  recommend  as  an  object  urgently  demanded  by 
interest  and  humanity. 

The  time  has  arrived,  in  the  opinion  of  the  committee,  when 
this  subject  of  African  colonization  has  become  sufficiently  im- 
portant to  attract  the  attention  of  the  people,  in  its  connexion 
with  the  question  of  the  political  relations  which  these  colonies 
are  to  hold  with  our  Government. 


Speech  of  the  Hon.  Henry  Clay, 
^t  the  Z\st  Anniversary  of  the  American  Colonization  Society, 
held  at  Washington,  January  18,  1848,  the  Hon.  Henry  Clay, 
in  the  course  of  his  speech,  made  the  following  remarks  : 


59 

It  is  now  nearly  thirty  years  since  Mr.  Finley,  Mi.  -/aldwell^ 
and  some  other  gentlemen,  met  by  agreement  with  a  view  to  forra 
a  Colonization  Society.     I  was  one  of  that  number.     We  did  not 
intend  to  do  more  or  less  than  establish  on  the  shores  of  Africa  a 
colony,  to  which  free  colored  persons  with  their  own  voluntary 
consent  might  go.     There  was  to  be  no  constraint,  no  coercion, 
no  compulsory  process  to  which  those  who  went  must  submit :  all 
■was  to  be  perfectly  voluntary  and  unconstrained  in  any  manner  or 
degree.     Far,  very  far,  was  it  from  our  purpose  to  interfere  with 
the  slaves,  or  to  shake  or  affect  the  title  by  which  they  are  held 
in  the  least  degree  whatever.     We  saw  and  were  fully  aware  of 
the  fact  that  the  free  white  race  and  the  colored  race  never  could 
live  together  on  terms  of  equality.    We  did  not  stop  to  ask  whether 
this  was  right  or  wrong  :  we  looked  at  the  fact,  and  on  that  fact 
we  founded  our  operations.     I  know,  indeed,  that  there  are  men, 
many  of  them  of  high  respectability,  who  hold  that  all  this  is  pre- 
judice ;  that  it  should  be  expelled  from  our  mind:s,  and  that  we 
ought  to  recognise  in  men,  though  of  different  color  from  our- 
selves, members  of  our  common  race,  entitled  in  all  respects  to 
equal  privileges  with  ourselves.     This  may  be  so  according  to 
their  view  of  the  matter ;  but  we  went  on  the  broad  and  incon- 
testible  fact,  that  the  two  races  could  not,  on  equal  terms,  live  in 
the  same  community  harmoniously  together.     And  we  thought 
that  the  people  of  color  should  be  voluntarily  removed,  if  practi- 
cable, to  their  native  country,  or  to  the  country  at  least  of  their 
ancestors  :  there  they  might  enjoy  all  those  blessings  of  freedom 
and  equality  of  condition  which  to  them  were  impossible  here. 
Our  object,  let  me  repeat  it,  was  limited  to  the  free ;  we  never 
thought  of  touching  in  any  manner  the  title  to  slave  property. 
We  hoped  to  be  able  to  demonstrate  the  practicability  of  coloniz- 
ing them  ;  and  when  that  should  have  been  demonstrated,  those 
who  owned  slaves  might  avail  themselves  of  it  or  not— might 
send  liberated  slaves  to  Africa  or  not,  precisely  as  they  pleased. 
All  our  purpose  was  to  establish,  if  we  could,  a  colony  of  free 


60 


colored  meii)  and  thus  to  demonstrate  to  the  world  that  coloniza- 
tion  was  practic.ibic. 

It  has  been  truly  stated,  that  from  the  day  of  its  formation  to 
the  present  hour,  the  Society  has  been  surrounded  with  ditiicul- 
ties.  It  has  had  to  stand  the  fire  of  batteries  both  in  front  and 
rear,  and  upon  both  flanks.  Extremes  of  opinion  and  of  actiot., 
which  could  unite  in  nothing  else,  united  in  as^iauiting  ua.  Those 
who  cared  for  the  safety  of  the  institution  of  slavery  assailed  us 
on  one  hand,  while  the  Abolitionists  assaulted  us  on  the  other. 
But  on  what  ground  should  either  oppose  such  an  enterprise  ? 
Our  ground  in  regard  to  both  was  total  non  interference.  We 
meant  to  deal  only  with  colored  persons  already  free.  This  did 
not  interfere  with  the  projects  of  the  Abolitionists.  For  myself, 
I  believe  those  projects  to  be  impracticable ;  and  I  am  persuaded 
that  if  the  same  energy  and  effort  which  have  been  expended  in 
getting  up  abolition  movements,  had  been  directed  to  the  woik  of 
colonization,  a  vast  amount  of  bt;nefit  would  have  resulted  to  the 
cause  of  humanity  and  to  the  colored  race.  Why  should  they 
attack  us  ?  We  do  not  interfere  with  them.  Their  project  is  to 
emancipate  at  one  blow  the  whole  colored  race.  Well,  if  they 
can  do  that,  then  our  object  begins.  The  office  of  colonization 
commences  only  where  theirs  would  end.  The  colored  race  be- 
ing here  in  the  midst  of  us,  and  not  being  capable  of  enjoying  a 
state  of  equality  with  the  whites  around  them,  our  object  is  to 
carry  them  to  a  place  where  they  may  enjoy,  without  molestation, 
all  the  benefits  of  freemen.  Here  is  no  incompatibility  ;  and  in 
point  of  fact  wj  have  thus  far  gone  on  our  way  without  disturbing 
any  body,  either  on  the  right  or  on  the  left. 

But  it  is  said  that  our  Society  is  incapable  of  effecting  any  great 
object.  That  our  aims  can  never  be  accomplished  without  aid 
from  the  State  governments,  or  unless  the  General  Government 
shall  send  out  of  the  country  all  the  free  blacks.  It  is  our  pur- 
pose to  show  the  power  of  colonization,  in  competent  hands,  fully 
to  carry  out  the  benevolent  ends  we  have  in  view,  to  work  all  the 


C)l 


great  resuits  for  which  this  Society  was  fonnod.  Our  |)urpo.st'  is 
to  demonstate  to  the  American  peopK>,  that  //"  t/itij  choose  to  take 
hold  of  this  great  project  in  their  Strife  Leiri.sfdtures,  or  otherwise^ 
the  end  sought  is  practicable,  and  the  principle  of  colonization  ix 
competent  to  carry  abroad  all  the  colored  population  who  shall  be 
emancipated.     That  demonstration  has  been  made. 

The  separation  of  free  colored  people  from  the  white  race  is  a 
measure  recommended  not  only  by  the  mutual  and  the  separate 
good  of  both,  but  by  the  prospect  that  Africa,  which  has  so  long 
lain  in  barbarism,  worshipping  unknown  and  forbidden  gods,  may 
thus  be  brought  to  the  light  and  blessings  of  Christianity.     Those 
who  met  to  form  this  Society  saw  not  only  that  great  good  would 
accrue  from  their  design  to  the  colored  race,  by  elevating  their 
character,  and  restoring  them  to  the  possession  of  rights  they 
neve/  can  enjoy  here,  but  that  it  would  be  a  probable  means,  in 
the  end,  of  carrying  to  Africa  all  the  blessing  of  our  holy  religion, 
and  all  the  benefits  of  our  civilization  and  freedom.     What  Chris- 
tian is  there  who  does  not  feel  a  deep  interest  in  sending  forth 
missionaries  to  convert  the  dark  heathen,  and  bring  them  within 
the  pale  of  Christianity  ?     But  what  missionaries  can  be  so  potent 
as  those  it  is  our  purpose  to  transport  tc  the  shores  of  Africa  ? 
Africans  themselves  by  birth,  or  sharing  at  least  African  blood, 
will  not  all  their  feelings,  all  their  best  aflfections,  induce  them  to 
seek  the  good  of  their  countrymen  ?     At  this  moment  there  are 
between  four  and  five  thousand  colonists  who  have  been  sent  to 
Africa  under  the  care  of  this  Society;  and  I  will  venture  to  say 
that  they  will  accomplish  as  missionaries  of  the  Christian  religion 
more  to  disseminate  its  blessings  than  all  the  rest  ofth".  missionaries 
throughout  the  globe.     Why,  gentlemen,  what  have  we  heard  ? 
In  the  colony  of  Liberia  there  are  now  twenty-five  places  of  pub- 
lic worship  dedicated  to  the  service  of  Almighty  God,  and  to  the 
glory  of  the  Saviour  of  men;  while  thousands  of  the  neighboring 
heathens  are  flocking  into  the  colony  to  obtain  a  knowledge  of  the 
arts,  and  who  may  ultimately  receive  the  better  knowledge  which 
Christianity  alone  can  bestow. 


62 


These  are  the  great  purposes  we  had  in  view  when  a  few  of  us 
met  to  form  this  Society.  As  soon  as  a  purchase  of  territory  had 
been  elfected  by  the  agent  we  dispatched  to  Africa  for  that  pur- 
pose, the  first  colonists,  about  twenty-five  years  since,  left  the 
American  shores,  and  were  safely  transplanted  to  the  land  of  their 
dtncestors. 

I  know  it  was  then  urged,  as  it  has  been  sine,  that  other  places 
might  have  been  selected  with  equal  advantage.  I  do  not  con- 
cur in  that  opinion.  Look  at  the  expense  alone.  It  has  been 
jstated  in  your  report  that  the  sum  of  fifty  dollars  is  sutficient  to 
cover  the  expense  of  transporting  one  emigrant  to  Liberia,  and  of 
maintaining  him  there  for  six  months  after  his  arrival.  To  what 
•other  position  in  the  known  world  coi  Id  he  be  sent  at  so  cheap  a 
rate  ?  Not  to  the  Pacific;  not  to  Oregon;  not  to  Mexico.  Then 
consider  the  advantages  of  this  position  in  point  of  navigation: 
remember  the  shortness  of  the  voyage.  When  these  things  are 
duly  considered,  it  must  be  evident  that  to  no  other  spot  on  the 
face  of  the  globe  could  the  free  colored  people  be  sent  with  no  much 
propriety  as  to  the  coast  of  Jlfrica.  Besides,  in  any  other  plaice 
that  might  be  selected,  you  would  deprive  yourselves  of  accom- 
plishmg  those  high  moral  and  religious  objects  which,  in  Africa, 
may  be  so  confidently  hoped  for. 

But,  again,  it  has  been  said  that  the  object  of  carrying  all  the 
free  colored  race  from  this  country  to  Africa  is  one  which  the 
Government  itself,  with  all  its  means,  could  not  effect.  Now,  on 
that  point,  let  me  state  a  fact  by  way  of  reply.  If  I  am  not  mis- 
taken, the  im.'pigration  from  abroad  into  the  port  of  iNew  York 
alone,  in  the  course  of  the  last  year,  was  fully  equal  to  the  annual 
increase  of  the  free  colored  population  of  the  Union,  and  yet  all 
that  was  done  voluntarily,  and  in  most  cases  without  any,  or  with 
very  little  aid.  The  fact  rests  on  the  great  motive  which,  to  a 
greater  or  less  extent,  governs  all  human  action.  Why  is  it  that 
the  Germans  and  the  Irish  have  thus  flocked  to  our  shores  in  num- 
bers to  meet  the  annual  increase  of  our  free  colored  people  not 
only,  but,  as  I  believe,  that  of  the  slave  population  also  ?     'J  hey 


mm 


(J3 

come  in  obedience  to  one  of  the  great  laws  of  our  nature;  they 
have  come  under  that  eflicient  motive  which  propeKs  men  to  all 
enterprises — the  desire  to  better  their  condition.     A  like  motive 
will  sway  the  free  blacks  when  enlif,'htcned  as  to  the  real  facts  of 
the  cane.     If  they  reach  the  shores  of  Africa,  whetluM-  by  their 
own  means,  or  by  the  aid  and  agency  of  others,  their  position  will 
be  physically,  morally,  and  pt)litically  heUer  than  by  any  possi- 
bility it  ever  can  be  here.     It  is  not  our  oHice  to  attempt  imprac- 
ticabilities; to  amalgamate  two  races  which  Cod  iiimsrlf,   by  a 
did'erence  of  color,  besides  other  inherent  distinctions,  has  declared 
must  be  separate,  and  remain  separate,  from  each  other.     And  if 
such  be  of  necessity  their  condition  here,  to  send  them  to  Africa, 
not  by  coercion,  but  with  their  own  free  consent,  is  surely  the 
best  practicable  mode  of  doing  them  good.     And  here  I  would  say 
to  those  in  both  extremes  of  opinion  and  of  feeling  on  the  subject 
of  slavery — I  would  say  to  all  men — why  should  the  free  people 
of  color  of  these  United  Slates  not  have  the  option  of  removing 
to  Africa,  or  remaining  where  they  are,  just  as  they  themselves 
shall  choose?     That  is  all  we  attempt.     We  wish  to  describe  to 
him  the  country,  to  facilitate  his  emigration  to  it,  and  then  leave 
hi  in  to  his  free  choice.     And  if  after  this  he  chooses  to  go,  why 
interpose  any  obstacle  in  his  way?     In  reply,  it  is  said  to  be  an 
act  of  cruelty  to  tsend  him  there.     The  climate  is  represented  as 
inhospitable;  he  will  be  exposed  to  inevitable  sickness,  and  will 
probably  soon  find  a  grave  on  that  distant  shore.     To  send  a  col- 
ored man  out  of  the  United  States  to  a  country  like  that  is  held 
up  as  an  act  of  the  greatest  inhumanity.     But,  happily,  our  records 
bear  the  most  grateful  testimony  to  the  reverse  of  all  this.     Let 
us  for  a  moment  compare  the  mortality  of  Liberia  with  that  of  the 
colonies  planted  on  our  own  shores.     Within  the  first  seventeen 
years  from  the  settlement  of  Jamestown,  in  Virginia,  nine  thousand 
colonists  arrived,  £150,000  sterling  were  expended  in  transporting 
them  from  England,  yet  at  the  end  of  that  period  but  about 
two  thousand  of  them  remained  alive.     All  the  rest  had  fallen 


C4 


victims  pither  to  the  climate,  or  to  the  tomahawk  o(  the  savage, 
or  had  perished  from  other  causes.  Then  look  at  Plymouth. 
History  records  that  in  less  than  six  months  after  the  arrival  of 
the  Mayflower,  full  half  of  all  who  landed  had  been  destroyed  by 
disease,  want,  and  suffering.  Now,  compare  with  these  efforts  at 
British  colonization  the  results  of  our  settlement  at  Liberia.  In 
twenty-five  years,  since  the  first  emigrants  landed  from  the  United 
States,  the  deaths  amounted  to  but  twenty  per  cent,  of  the  entire 
number,  being  far  less  than  died  at  Plymouth  in  six  months;  far 
less  than  at  Jamestown  in  seventeen  years.  The  deaths  at  James- 
town were  in  seventeen  years  more  than  four  times  as  numerous^ 
in  proportion,  as  at  Liberia  in  twenty-five  years.  There  is  then 
nothing  in  the  climate  to  discourage  us,  nothing  in  the  alleged 
dreadful  mortality  of  the  colony  to  frighten  us. 

But  it  is  said  we  have  done  very  little.  All  the  great  enter- 
prises of  man  have  had  small  beginnings.  The  founders  of  Rome, 
if  we  may  believe  the  tale  of  tradition,  were  suckled  by  a  wolf. 
Jamestown  and  Plymouth  both  languished  for  years  after  the 
period  to  which  I  have  already  referred.  Yet  now,  what  land  is 
there  on  the  broad  surface  of  the  habitable  globe,  what  sea  spreads 
out  it«  waste  of  waters,  that  has  not  been  penetrated  and  traversed 
by  the  enterprise,  the  skill,  and  the  courage  of  our  New  Kngland 
brethren?  And  on  what  battle-field,  in  what  council  chamber,  can 
a  single  spot  in  our  vast  country  be  found  where  the  Virginian 
character  has  not  disphyed  itself  in  its  gallantry  or  its  deliberative 
wisdom?  I  repeat  it;  all  the  greatest  enterprises  of  man  have  had 
small  beginnings.  Our  colony  is  but  twenty-five  years  old;  it 
has  received  already  between  four  and  five  thousand  colored  emi- 
grants, besides  hundreds  more  of  recaptured  Africans;  all  of  which 
have  been  sent  there  by  order  of  this  Government.  Immense 
numbers  of  the  natives  are  crowding  into  the  colony  to  obtain  the 
benefits  of  education,  of  civilization,  and  of  Christianity.  In  addi- 
tion to  all  these,  there  are  many  thousands  more  in  the  United  States 
now  seeking  the  advantages  of  colonization  through  the  means 


1 


65 

held  out  by  this  Society.     As  far  then  as  wo  have  gone,  good  is 

DONE. 

Isitnot  bettor  that  those  four  or  five  thousand  emigrants  should 
be  there,  than  that  they  should  have  remained  here?  Is  it  not 
better  for  themselves,  in  it  not  better  for  us?  Every  year  the 
progress  of  our  colony  becomes  more  and  more  cheerio;;;  and, 
with  every  free  African  sent  over  to  if,  those  prospects  brighten, 
and  so  much  more  of  good  is  done.  True,  we  have  done  all  we 
desire  to  do.  Glad  should  we  bo  should  every  free  colored 
man  throuj^hout  all  the  States  go  there,  and  become  free  indeed. 
But  it  requires  time  to  accom|i!l>Ii  great  national  affairs.  The 
creation  of  a  nation  is  not  the  work  ol  a  day  or  of  a  century.  For 
two  or  three  centuries  the  embiyo  nation  ol'  the  Israelites  remained 
captives  in  Kgypt.  But  when  this  Gt.vernment,  or  the  Slate  /gov- 
ernments, shiill  lend  the  ent  rprise  their  powerful  aid,  its  progress 
"will  not  be  so  slow.  And  when  the  colony  shall  have  made  fur- 
ther advances,  it  will  bo  self-sustained  and  increased  by  its  own 
commerce  and  marine.  I  speak  not,  of  course,  of  any  unconsti- 
tutional aid.  Incidental  aid,  at  least,  ?.<  y  be  qiven  it  in  strict 
accordance  with  the  Constitution.  On  this  subject  the  legislature 
of  Maryland  has  set  us  a  noble  example.  She  cherishes  her  in- 
fant colony  with  the  utmost  solicitude  and  care.  When  other 
States  of  the  Union  shall  do  the  same,  the  cause  of  colonization 
will  experience  a  vast  acceleration. 

During,  now,  a  period  of  twenty-five  years,  without  power, 
without  reven'  e,  without  aid,  save  the  voluntary  contribution  !  of 
the  charitable  and  humane,  has  this  Society  continued  its  labors. 
During  that  peiiod  it  has  carried  on  a  defensive  war.  It  Las 
made  treaties.  It  has  purcht.:  ed  territory,  and  that  to  a  large  ex- 
tent; owning,  now,  some  three  hundred  and  twenty  miles  along 
the  western  coast  of  Africa,  throughout  the  whole  of  which  extent 
(with  one  dark  exception)  the  slave  trade  has  been  suppressed. 
And  in  this  connexion  I  may  be  permitted  to  remark,  that  if  the 
Governments  of  Kurope  and  of  the  United  States,  who  have  united 

their  efforts  for  the  suppression  of  the  slave  trade,  would  consent  to 
5 


\ 


66 


If  nd  but  a  small  portion  of  the  navies  they  now,  at  so  great  a  cost, 
maintain  off  the  African  coast  in  furtherance  of  that  design,  to  the 
great  object  of  colonization,  they  would  prove  mucJi  more  success- 
ful than  they  have  hitherto  found  themselves  in  putting  an  end  to 
that  detested  traffic.  I  believe  thai  no  other  means  will  ever  prove 
so  operative  and  effectual  to  that  end  as  the  covering  the  entire 
coast  of  that  quarter  of  the  globe  with  colonies  of  free  colored  men. 
Then  would  all  be  united,  by  sympathy  for  their  outraged  country- 
men) in  heartily  advancing  a  design  which  commends  itself  to 
every  feeling  of  the  black  man's  heart. 

And  now,  in  conclusion,  I  should  fail  of  expressing  the  feelings 
which  are  rising  in  my  bosom,  did  I  not  congratulate  you,  gentle- 
men of  the  Society,  on  the  eminent  success  which  has  already 
crowned  your  benevolent  labors.  A  new  republic  has  sprung  into 
exi><tence  under  your  auspices.  Yes;  a  free,  representative,  con- 
stitutional republic,  formed  on  the  model  of  our  own  beloved  in- 
stitutions. A  republic,  founded  by  black  men,  reared  by  black 
men,  put  into  operation  by  the  blacks,  and  which  holds  out  to  our 
hope  the  brightest  prospects.  Whether  we  look  at  what  has  al- 
ready been  done,  or  lift  our  eyes  to  the  lUture  and  cast  them  down 
the  long  vista  of  coming  time — when  we  may  anticipate,  as  we  are 
■wa^'ranted  to  do,  the  dissemination  over  a  large  part,  if  not  the 
whole,  of  Africa,  of  our  own  free  government,  our  love  of  liberty, 
our  knowledge  of  Christianity,  our  arts,  and  civilization,  and  do- 
mestic happiness — when  we  behold  those  blessings  realized  on  that 
continent,  which  I  trust  in  God  we  are  long,  long  destined  to  en- 
joy on  this,  and  think  how  the  hearts  of  posterity  will  be  gladden- 
ed by  such  a  spectacle — how  ought  our  own  to  exult  in  hope  and 
to  swell  with  gratitude? 

Co  on,  then,  gentlemen;  go  on  in  your  noble  cause.  For  my- 
self, I  shall  soon  leave  you  and  this  stage  of  human  action  forever. 
I  may  never  occupy  this  chair  again;  but  I  trust  tnat  the  spirit 
which  r  iginated  and  which  has  sustained  this  Society  will  long 
survive  me,  and  that  you  may  long  continue,  now  that  our  Afri- 
can republic  is  at  length  bom,  to  discharge  the  offices  of  guardian- 


V     4 


. 


\  i 


67 

■hip,  and  aiJ,  and  co-operation,  and  ever  give  to  the  interests  of 
African  freed  >m,  civ  ili/ation  and  social  happiness,  your  best  ener- 
gies and  most  fervent  prayers.  From  this  auspicious  hour,  even 
to  the  end  of  time,  or  until  ihe  great  object  of  the  amicable  sepa- 
ration of  the  two  races  shall  have  been  fully  effected,  may  others 
spring  up  to  take  your  places,  and  to  tread  in  your  steps.  And, 
finally,  invoking  on  this  great  and  good  cause  the  blessing  of  that 
God  without  whom  nothing  is  strong,  nothing  is  holy,  and  vhose 
smiles,  I  believe,  have  hitherto  been  extended  to  it,  I  bid  you  a 
cordial  farewell." 


Resolutions  deVvered  and  proposed  by  Hon.  R.  W.  Thompson^  Hon. 

R.  J.    Walker,  Hon.  Joseph  R.  Jngersoll,  Hon.  R.  M.  McLanCy 

Hugh  Maxwell,  esq. ,  and  others. 
'    At  the  32d  annual  meeting  of  the  American  Colonization  So- 
ciety, held  at  ;Vashington,  January  16,  1849,  the  Hon.  R.  W. 
Thompson,  of  Indiana,  offered  the  following  resolution,  which  was 
adopted : 

iiResolvedy  That  the  history  of  the  past  year,  as  developed  in 
the  report  which  has  just  been  read,  has  strengthened  our  confi- 
dence in  the  great  principles  of  the  Colonization  Society,  and  that 
in  their  purity  and  strength  we  see  satisfactory  evidence  of  their 
ultimate  triumph.  *  '' 

The  Hon.  Robert  J.  Walker,  Secretary  of  the  Treasury,  with 
some  appro{)riate  remarks,  introduced  the  following  resolution: 

^'Resolved,  That  in  founding  a  new  republican  empire  on  the 
shores  of  Africa,  introducing  there  civilization  and  Christianity^ 
in  bani^hing  the  slave  trade  from  a  large  portion  of  its  western 
coast,  and  accelerating  its  expulsion  from  that  whole  continent; 
in  opening  commerce  and  intercourse  with  the  savage  tribes  of 
the  interior,  soon  to  be  foUowe.l  by  a  rapid  advancement  in  their 
condition;  in  laying  the  foundation  of  a  system  destined  to  facili- 
tate the  ultimate  separation  of  the  two  races  of  Ham  and  Japhet 


68 


i 


in  this  Confederacy,  by  universal  consent,  for  the  advantage  of 
both,  and  the  gradual  and  peaceful  re.storation  of  the  former  to  the 
land  of  their  forefathers,  regenerated  by  the  light  of  Christianity, 
and  trained  in  the  piinciples  of  our  free  institutions:  and  especially 
in  fixing  a  basis  upon  which  the  friends  of  religion  and  humanity, 
of  freedom,  ol  the  Constitution,  and  oJ  the  Uiiiin,  can  every  where, 
in  every  State,  north  and  south,  east  and  west,  unite  their  efforts 
for  the  advancemf-nt  of  the  happiness  of  both  races,  and  at  the 
same  time  accomplish  the  glorious  purpose  of  preserving  the 
harmony  and  perpetuating  the  union  of  the  States;  the  American 
Colonization  Society,  embracing  the  whol*'  country  and  all  its 
parts,  has  established  a  claim  upon  the  efficient  aid  and  zealous 
co-operation  of  every  lover  of  his  country  and  of  mank'-nd.'  '* 

The  Hon.  J.  R.  Ikgkrsoll,  of  Pennsylvania,  seconded  the 
resolution,  and  addressed  the  meeting  thereupon,  after  which  it 
was  adopted. 

The  Hon.  Robert  M.  McLane,  of  Maryland,  offered  the 
foliuvsing  preamhle  and  resilutii  ns,  which  were  adopted: 

"Whereas  the  in-titution  of  domestic  slavery  in  the  United 
States  exi.-ts  as  the  creature  of  local  municipal  Uw,  so  recognised 
and  respected  in  the  Federal  Constitution:  Therefore — 

^^Resolv'd,  That  in  all  action  affecting  this  institution  in  its  so- 
cial or  political  aspect,  the  Amt  rican  citizen  and  .-tatesman  who 
reveres  the  Federal  Union,  has  imposed  upon  him  the  most  solemn 
obligations  to  respect  in  spirit  and  letter  the  authority  of  such  local 
and  municipal  sovereignties,  and  to  resist  all  aggressive  influences 
which  tend  to  disturb  the  peace  and  tranquility  of  the  States,  that 
may  have  created  or  sanctioned  tliis  institution. 

'•^Resolved,  further^  That  the  efforts  of  the  American  Coloniza- 
tion Society  to  facilitate  the  ultimate  emancipation  and  restoration 
of  the  black  race  to  social  and  national  independence  are  highly 
honorable  and  judicious,  and  consistent  with  a  strict  respect  for 
the  rights  and  privileges  of  the  citizens  of  the  several  States  where- 
in the  institution  of  slavery  is  sanctioned  by  municipal  law.*  '* 


Si 


1 


]i 


Hugh  Maxwell,  esq.,  of  New  York,  was  called  upon,  and 
having  made  an  address,  ofTered  the  following  resolution,  which 
was  adopted: 

^^ Resolved,  Thsit  the  influence  which  the  scheme  of  African  colo- 
nization exerts  to  suppress  the  slave  trade,  to  spread  the  English 
language  and  the  principles  of  republican  govejnmenl,  and  to  open 
new  markets  for  American  products,  and  extend  American 
commerce,  should  co  :  mend  it  to  tfie  favorable  con^deration  of 
the  respective  State  Legislatures  and  of  the  General  Government. ' " 

Opinion  of  the  Hon.  Daniel  Webster  on  coloniz'ition  at  the  expense 
of  I  e  General  Government. 

The  Hon.  Daniel  Webster,  in  hi^  great  speech  in  the  United 
States  Senate,  7th  of  March,  ISoO,  spoke  as  follows  : 

"  1  have  one  other  remark  to  make.  In  my  obseivations  upon 
slavery  as  it  has  existed  in  the  country,  and  as  it  now  exists,  I 
have  expressed  no  opinion  of  the  mode  of  its  extinguishment  or 
melioration.  I  will  say,  however,  though  I  have  nothing  to  pro- 
pose on  that  subject,  because  I  do  not  deem  my>elf  so  competent 
as  other  gentlemen  to  consider  it,  that  if  any  gentleman  from  the 
South  shall  propose  a  scheme  of  culmization  to  be  carried  on  by 
this  Government  upon  a  large  scale,  for  the  transportation  of  free 
colored  people  to  any  colony  or  any  place  in  the  worh',  I  should 
be  quite  disposed  to  incur  almost  any  degree  of  expense  to  accom- 
plish that  object.  Nay,  sir,  following  an  example  set  here  more 
than  twenty  years  ago  by  a  great  man,  then  a  Senator  from  New 
York,  I  would  return  to  Virginia,  and  through  her  for  the  benefit 
of  the  whole  South,  the  money  received  from  lands  and  territories 
ceded  by  her  to  this  Government,  for  any  such  purpo^e  as  to  re- 
lieve, in  whole  or  in  part,  or  in  any  way  to  dimii  ish  or  deal  bene- 
ficially with,  the  free  colored  population  of  the  Southern  States. 
I  have  said  that  I  honor  Virginia  for  her  cession  of  this  territory. 
There  have  been  received  into  the  Treasury  of  the  United  States 
eighty  millions  ofdoUars,  the  proceeds  ofthe  sales  of  the  publiclands 


r 


70 

ceded  by  her.  If  the  residue  should  be  sold  at  the  same  rate,  the 
whole  aofgregate  will  exceed  two  hundred  millions  of  dollars.  If 
Vir^'nia  and  the  South  see  fit  to  adopt  any  proposition  to  relieve 
themselves  from  the  free  people  of  color  among  them,  they  have 
my  free  consent  that  the  Government  shall  pay  them  any  sum  of 
money  out  of  its  proceeds,  which  may  be  adequate  to  the  pur- 
pose." 


Extracts  from  a  letter  from  Commodore  Stockton  to  Hon.  Daniel 
Webster,  dated  March  '25th,  1850. 

**Yonder  is  Africa,  with  her  one  hundred  and  fifty  millions  of 
miserable,  degraded,  ignorant,  lawless,  superstitioifs  idolaters. 
Whoever  has  stood  upon  her  sands,  has  stood  upon  a  continent 
that  has  geographical  and  physical  peculiarities  which  belong  to 
no  other  of  the  great  divisions  of  the  globe.  The  latter  appear, 
upon  the  face  of  them,  to  have  been  adapted  to  draw  out  the  en- 
ergies of  the  natives  in  their  inequalities  of  temperature,  soil,  and 
surface,  inviting  the  ingenuity  and  enterprise  of  man  to  overcome 
(hem,  and  in  the  varieties  of  their  products  temptjjig  the  inter- 
changes of  commerce;  thus  affording  ample  encouragement  to  the 
progress  of  civil  and  social  improvement.  But  Africa  is  still,  as 
of  old,  a  land  of  silence  and  of  mystery.  Like  the  interminable 
dreariness  of  her  own  deserts,  her  moral  wastes  of  mind  lie  wait- 
ing for  the  approach  of  influences  from  abroad.  No  savage  peo- 
ple have  ever  advanced  to  a  civilized  state  without  intercommu- 
nication with  others.  All  the  continents  of  the  world  have,  in 
their  turn,  been  occupied  and  civilized  by  means  of  colonies;  but 
in  no  one  of  them  did  it  appear  so  inevitably  necessary,  from  a 
previous  examination  of  circumstances,  as  in  that  of  Africa.  It  is 
plain  to  the  very  eye,  that  Africa  is  a  Imd  to  which  civilization 
miist  be  brought.  The  attempt  has  been  made  over  and  over 
again  by  devoted  missionaries  and  others  to  penetrate  that  land, 
and  seek  to  impart  the  blessings  of  civilization  and  Christianity  to 
her  savage  hordes.  But  the  labor  has  been  spent  in  vain.  The 
white  man  cannot  live  in  Africa.     The  annals  of  the  Moravians, 


71 

of  Cape  Colony,  of  Sierra  Leone,  of  Liberia,  contain  the  records 
of  the  sacrifice  of  some  of  the  best  men  that  have  lived  to  grace 
the  pages  of  any  people's  history,  in  the  vain  attempt  to  accom- 
plish something  for  her  redemption  through  the  instrumentality  of 
white  men.      WhOf  then,  is  to  do  this  work'f 

Let  now  any  calm,  reflecting  spectator  of  the  present  state  of 
the  world  be  asked  to  look  at  Africa,  and  then,  from  among  the 
nations,  point  out  the  people  best  calculated  to  do  this  work— and 
when  his  eye  falls  upon  the  descendants  of  the  sons  of  that  conti- 
nent now  in  America,  will  he  not  say,  These  are  the peoj)le appointed 

for  that  work! 

Let  us  not  be  impatient  or  presumptuous.  These  African  peo- 
ple are  passing  to  their  destiny  along  the  same  path  which  has 
been  trod  by  other  nations,  through  a  mixture  of  hardship,  of  en- 
durance; but  in  a  land  of  light,  and  amid  a  civilized  society. 
They  are  preparing  to  accomplish  a  work  for  their  native  conti- 
nent, which  no  other  people  in  the  world  can  accomplish.  Their 
plain  mission  is,  ultimately  to  carry  the  gifts  of  society,  of  religion, 
of  government,  to  the  last  remaining  continent  of  the  earth,  where 
these  blessings  are  totally  unknown.  Their  work  is  a  great  one, 
as  it  would  seem  to  be  connected  essentially  with  the  final  and 
universal  triumph  of  civilization  and  Christianity  in  the  world.»> 


Extract  from  a  letter  from  the  Hon.  Edward  Everett  to  the 
Hun.  Simon  Greenlenf  President  of  the  Society^  dated  Cam- 
bridge, 2Sth  May,  1849. 

"  I  have  for  many  years  felt  an  interest  in  the  subject  of  Afri- 
can  colonization.  In  the  winter  of  1831,  the  Legislature  of  Mas- 
sachusetts passed  a  resolution,  requesting  the  Senators  and  Rep- 
resentatives of  the  Commonwealth  in  Congress  to  lend  their 
efforts  in  support  of  the  American  Colonization  Society.  I  was 
led  at  that  time  to  investigate  the  subject  with  some  care,  and  I 
came  to  the  conclusion  that  the  work  which  the  Society  had  un- 
dertaken was  of  the  highest  interest  and  importance,  second  to 
no  one  of  the  enterprises  undertaken  by  the  philanthropy  of  the 


72 


.  ( 


age.  The  views  entertained  by  me  at  that  time  are  set  forth  in 
a  fpeecli  before  the  Society,  in  the  Hall  of  the  Hout^e  of  Repre- 
sentatives at  Washington,  made  on  the  IGth  of  Januaiy,  1832. 

"  These  impressions  were  renewed  and  strengthened  a  few  years 
since,  when  it  became  my  duty,  in  another  capacity,  to  maintain 
the  rights  and  interests  of  the  colony  of  Liberia,  in  my  official 
correspondence  with  the  Biitish  Government  at  London. 

"  Since  that  time,  the  recognition  of  the  political  independence 
of  Liberia,  by  the  leading  European  powers,  is  an  event  well  cal- 
culated to  lead  thoughtful  persons  to  contemplate,  with  new 
interest,  what  seems  to  me  one  of  the  most  important  occurrences 
of  the  age — the  appearance  of  a  new  Republic  on  the  shores  of 
Afiica,  composed  of  citizens  who  by  birth  are  (the  greatei  part 
of  them)  our  own  countrymen;  but  who  will  carry  to  the  home 
of  their  ancestors  means  and  facilities  for  promoting  the  civiliza- 
tion and  Christianization  of  that  continent,  which  Providence  has 
confided  to  them,  and  to  them  a^one. 

"It  is  unfortunate,  for  the  cause  of  colonization,  that  it  has 
been  considered  mainly  in  direct  connexion  with  the  condition  of 
the  descendants  of  Africa  in  this  country.  But  great  as  this 
object  is,  it  seems  to  me  subordinate  to  a  direct  operation  upon 
Africa  itself;  the  regeneration  of  which,  I  cannot  but  think,  is 
the  path  appointed  by  Providence  for  the  elevation  of  the  de- 
scendants of  Africa  throughout  the  world.  I  am  led  to  the  opin- 
ion, from  all  the  inquiry  I  have  been  able  to  make,  that  the  difficulty 
of  effecting  the  regeneration  of  Africa  is  exaggerated;  that  a  large 
part  of  her  population  is  susceptible  of  the  highest  forms  of  civi- 
lization; that  the  arts  of  life,  as  we  understand  them,  already 
exist  in  many  parts  of  the  continent  to  a  much  greater  extent 
than  is  commonly  supposed;  that  the  interior  slave  trade  is  the 
great  obstacle  which  prevents  its  speedily  taking  a  high  place  in 
the  family  of  nations;  and  that  nothing  would  so  effectually 
remove  this  cause  of  demoralization  and  barbarity  as  the  intro- 
duction of  Christianity,  and  with  it  the  languages,  improved  arts, 
and  commerce  of  Europe  and  America. 


73 

**  These  effects  have  immediately  begun  to  show  themselves, 
wherever  the  Afiican  coast  has  Ixhmi  loloiii/eii  from  coimtiiea 
disposed  in  good  faith  to  abolish  the  slave  trade;  and  I  confess  I 
see  no  other  mode  for    fleeting  the  object." 


Monrovia,  (Liberia,)  J\fny  17,  1850. 

Dear  Sir:  I  have  just  returned  from  the  windward  coast,  and 
find  here  the  U.  S.  bridf  Bainbridge,  on  the  eve  of  sailing  for  the 
United  States,  via  Poito  Praya.  Capt.  Slaughter  has  been  kind 
enough  to  allow  me  an  hour  to  send  a  letter  or  two  by  him.  I 
therefore  avail  myself  of  the  opportunity  to  send  you  a  hasty  note, 
to  say  that  we  have  at  length  succeeded  in  securing  the  famed 
territory  of  Gallinas  to  this  Government,  including  all  the  leriito- 
ries  between  Cape  Mount  and  Shebar,  excepting  a  small  slip  of 
about  five  miles  of  coast  in  the  Kellou  country,  which  will  also 
soon  fall  into  our  hands. 

For  these  tracts  we  have  incurred  a  large  debt,  and  we  confi- 
dently look  to  you  to  aid  us  in  meeting  th  *s(;  liabilities  at  matui  ity. 
Had  I  not  deemed  it  absolutely  important  to  se«  uie  Ifie  (Jallinas, 
to  prevent  the  revival  of  the  slave  trade  therr,  I  would  not  have 
paid  the  price  demanded.  The  purchase  of  Gallinas  and  the 
neighboring  tracts  vvill  cost  us  about  $9,. 500. 

The  chiefs  were  aware  of  the  object  of  the  purchase,  and  urged 
strenuously  the  sacrifice,  as  thev  consider  it,  they  niu>t  make  in 
abandoning  forever  the  slave  trade,  and  demand«'d  a  large  sum  as 
an  equivalent.  In  addition  to  the  amount  stated  above,  we  have 
oblio'ated  ourselves  to  appoint  .commissioners  immediately  to  set- 
tle the  wars  in  the  country,  and  open  the  trade  in  camwood,  ivory, 
and  palm  oil  with  the  interior  tribes;  and  also  settle  among  them, 
as  soon  as  convenient,  persons  capable  of  instructing  them  in 
the  arts  of  husbandry.  This  will  also  cost  us  a  considerable  sum, 
which  will  no  doubt  be  returned  in  the  end  by  the  advantages  the 
trade  will  give.  Still  the  present  outlay  will  be,  I  fear,  more  than 
€qual  to  our  ability. 


74 

The  schoonPF  "David  C.  Foster"  has  arrived  safely,  and  the 
emigrants,  as  far  as  I  have  learned,  were  landed  in  good  health. 
We  have  no  further  news  worth  communicating. 

Yours,  in  haste, 

J.  J.  ROBERTS. 
Rev.  W.  McLain,  Washington. 

Note. — This  purchase  makes  the  coast  of  Liberia  700  miles  in 
length,  along  the  whole  course  of  which  the  Slave  trade  was  for- 
merly carried  on  to  a  great  extent. 


Extracts  from  the  lending  nrticle  in  the  African  Repository  and 
Colonial  Journal  for  May^  1850,  (the  official  organ  of  the  Colo- 
nization Society f)  on  the  establishment  of  the  proposed  line  of 
Steamers. 

The  Colonization  Society  undertook  to  found  a  colony,  to 
which  the  colored  people  might  find  it  advantageous  to  emig»-ate. 
This  has  already  been  done.  The  work  has  been  slow  in  its  pro- 
gress, as  it  were  piling  one  stone  upon  other,  till  now  the  founda- 
tion is  laid  deep  and  wide.  The  Republic  is  sufficiently  well 
established  to  receive  a  large  number  of  emigrants  yearly  :  there 
is  room  enough  for  them,  and  every  thi:,g  i,,\i>ti^  .jirm  there,  and 
these  four  steamers  afford  the  facilities  lor  their  leaching  there. 
It  now  only  remains  for  the  United  States  Government  to  adopt, 
foster,  and  encourage  this  work,  and  it  will  be  done. 

The  great  ends  to  be  established  present  considerations  of 
sufficient  importance  to  induce  the  Government  to  comply  with 
the  prayer  of  the  memorial.  When  these  steamers  are  started 
the  United  States  squadron  on  that  coast  may  be  withdrawn.  It 
now  costs  upwards  of  $384,500  to  maintain  that  squadron  a 
year.  These  four  steamers,  and  the  emigrants  carried  out  by 
them,  will -annually  accompli&h  a  thousand  fold  more  for  the  sup- 
pression of  the  slave  trade,  than  the  squadron  ever  has  or  ever 
can  accomplish  !  There  cannot  be  a  doubt  of  this.  Does  the 
United  States  Government  desire  the  suppression  of  the  slave 
trade  ?  Undoubtedly.  Here  then  ia  the  way  in  which  it  may 
be  done. 


i 


75 


We  may  ask  another  question.  Is  it  desirable  that  Anierican 
commerce  should  be  extended  ?  Undoubtedly.  Here  then  is  a 
way  in  which  it  may  be  done.  The  l.'50,000,000  inhabitants  of 
Africa,  now  all  naked,  must  be  clotkedy  and  will  be  as  civilization 
advances  among  them.  They  must  have  the  means  and  appliances 
of  agriculture  and  the  mechanic  arts.  And  in  return  for  all  these, 
they  have  all  the  rich  and  varied  productions  of  tropical  climates! 
How  shall  this  work  be  accomplished  ?  How  shall  Africa  be  civi- 
lized ?  How  shall  a  market  be  opened  there  for  all  the  artirlee 
manufactured  in  the  United  States,  and  for  the  surplus  produc- 
tions of  our  soil  ?  How  shall  the  inexhaustible  treasures  of  1-iat 
immense  continent  be  brought  to  supply  our  wants,  and  increase 
our  wealth  and  our  glory  ? 

By  Colonization — by  carrying  out  the  plans  and  measures 
which  the  Society  has  adopted  and  been  strugj^ling  to  achieve. 
Already  more  than  80,000  of  the  natives  have  put  themselves  un- 
der the  laws  of  Libera,  and  are  rising  in  the  scale  of  humanity. 
Already  there  is  a  large  demand  for  the  productions  of  thia 
countr3\ 

When  the  transported  population  of  Liberia  shall  be  .50,000  or 
200,000.  they  will  present  a  market  for  our  surplus  manufactures, 
and  bread  stuffs,  of  immense  value.  A  line  of  settlements  on  the 
coast  will  command  the  commerce  of  the  interior.  If  that  power 
is  held  by  men  sent  from  this  country  by  a  large  and  liberal  po- 
licy, nurtured  and  grown  up  under  our  institutions,  and  by  our 
fostering  care  and  aid,  in  establishing  themselves  in  Liberia,  they 
will  ever  be  inclined  to  trade  with  this  country,  and  thus  open  to 
our  merchants  those  wide  fields  of  wealth  !  The  amount  asked 
by  the  Company  from  the  Government  for  carrying  the  mails, 
would  not  affect  injuriously  one  single  interest  of  the  country,  and 
it  would  be  more  than  repaid  with  interest  by  the  advantages  of 
the  commerce  to  be  secured  thereby. 

The  advantages  whi;  h  would  be  enjoyed  by  the  people  of  the 
United  States  as  the  result  of  the  removal  of  the  free  colored 
people,  and  the  separation  of  the  races,  would  be  immense.    The 


76 

blessings  to  them  would  be  incalculable.  They  dwell  among  us, 
but  they  are  not  of  us.  They  do  not  enjoy,  and  the  prospect  is, 
they  never  can  enjoy  h'^re,  true  liberty  !  We  provide  for  them  a 
means  of  escape  from  these  dcpiossing  circumstance^*,  and  place 
them  in  a  situation  were  nothuig  car»  prevent  them  from  rising  to 
the  highest  elevation  of  which  they  are  capable. 

Under  these  circumstances,  what  is  the  duty  of  the  Govern- 
ment to  do?  To  sit  still  and  lose  the  golden  opportunity  ?  No, 
this  is  not,  this  cannot  be,  the  wisest  policy  !  Motives  of  honor, 
of  benevolence,  of  justice,  of  patiiolism,  demand  a  difTerent 
policy. 

Let  it  be  remembered  that  the  legislation  of  our  country  touch- 
ing the  extinction  of  the  slave  trade,  conferred  upon  her  a  glory 
as  imperi.-hable  as  the  Constitution  herself.  A  ju>t  regard  to  our 
national  character  calls  for  a  pei severance  in  that  policy,  until  its 
"wisdom  and  binignity  shall  be  vin<licated  in  the  full  a  inplinh- 
ment  of  its  ends  ;  the  giving  to  Africa  civilization  and  the  arts, 
and  a  lawful  commerce  ! 


IM 


Extracts  from  the  July  JVb.  of  the  Jlfrican  Repository. 

In  all  parts  of  the  country  we  perceive  that  the  friends  of 
Liberia  look  upon  this  four-steamships  scheme  as  fraught  with 
immense  promise.  The  public  sentiment  of  the  country  is  de- 
cidedly in  favor  of  colonization,  and  of  national  and  State  appro- 
priations for  carrying  it  on. 

We  think  there  are  indications  that  the  State  Legislatures 
will  render  assistance  to  an  almost  unlimited  extent.  When  it  is 
made  manifest  that  colonization  can  an  1  will  be  prosecuted  on  a 
scale  of  grandeur  and  magnificence  equal  to  its  merits,  the  whole 
country  will  unite  in  favor  and  liberality. 

We  huve  the  control  of  the  number  of  emigrants  who  may  be 
sent  in  these  steamships.  We  are  ?wt  bound  to  send  any  specific 
number.  They  are  bound  to  take  as  many  as  we  want  to  send. 
But  we  shall  take  good  care  not  to  send  more  than  the  Republic 
can  softly  receive;  nor  more  than  we  have  the  means  of  paying 


ff 


77 

tne  passage  of,  and  comfortably  settling  in  Liberia  ?  This  is  our 
Hafe-guard. 

Let  it  be  remembered,  that  it  will  be  some  two  or  three  years 
before  the  steamships  will  be  ready  for  operation.  This  will  give 
time  for  cont-idenition,  for  preparation,  and  for  gathering  up  the 
resources  for  a  grand  demon^tration  of  what  can  be  done.  The 
work  is  worthy  of  a  nation's  energy  !  why  may  we  not  hope  that 
it  will  receive  it  ? 

Does  any  one  say,  « the  time  has  not  yet  come  .^"  Are  you 
sure  of  it  ?  Is  not  this  the  day  of  great  things  ?  How  rapid  has 
been  the  march  of  iir)provement  during  the  last  few  year.-  !  Who 
can  predict  what  is  next  to  come  ?  is  it  not  a  fiict  that  the  Gov- 
ernment of  Liberia  is  now  firmly  established  ?  Do  ihey  not  want 
more  citizens  of  education  and  influence  ?  Are  there  not  thou- 
sands of  acres  of  the  richest  land  there,  w-ailing  for  cultivation  ? 
Have  we  not  all  been  for  years  looking  to  the  time  when  the  work 
of  colonization  should  be  carried  on  with  means  and  re.-ources 
adequate  to  the  greatness  of  the  work  ?  How  much  longer,  then, 
shall  we  wait  before  we  make  the  attempt  to  sum.mon  these 
means,  and  enter  on  these  enlarged  operations  ?  Has  not  the 
time  fully  come  ?     We  are  persuaded  it  has. 


At  the  annual  meeting  of  the  American  Colonization  Society, 
on  January  16th,  1S50,  tlie  Hon.  H"NRV  ("lay  was  elected  Pre- 
sident of  the  Society,  and  the  following  gentlemen  were  elected 
Vice  Presidents: 

1.  General  John  H.  Cocke,  of  Virginia. 

2.  Daniel  Webster,  of  Massachusetts. 

3.  Charles  F.  Mercer,  of  Florida. 

4.  Rev.  Jeremiah  Day,  D.  D.,  of  Connecticut. 

5.  Theodore  Frelinghuysen,  of  New  York. 

6.  Louis  McLane,  of  Baltimore. 

7.  Moses  Allen,  of  New  York. 

8.  General  W.  Jones,  of  Wa.^hington. 

9.  Joseph  Gales,  of  Washington. 


78 


10.  Right  Rev.  Wm.  Meade,  D.  D.,  Bishop  of  Virginia. 

11.  John  McDonogh,  of  Louisiana. 

12.  Rev.  fames  O.  Andrews,  Biahop  of  the  M.  E.  Church 

13.  William  Maxwell,  of  Virginia. 

14.  Elisha  Whittlesey,  of  Ohio. 

15.  Walter  Lowrie,  of  New  York. 

16.  Jacob  Burnet,  of  Ohio. 

17.  Dr.  Stephen  Duncan,  of  Mississippi. 

18.  William  C.  Rives,  of  Virginia. 

19.  Rev.  J.  Laurie,  D.  D.,  of  Washington. 

20.  Rev.  Wm.  Winans,  of  Mississippi. 

21.  James  Boorman,  of  New  York. 

22.  Henry  A.  Foster,  ot  New  York. 

23.  Dr.  John  Ker,  of  Mississippi. 

24.  Robert  Campbell,  of  Georgia. 

25.  Peter  D.  Vroom,  of  New  Jersey. 

26.  James  Garland,  of  Virginia. 

27.  Right  Hon.  Lord  Bexley,  of  London. 

28.  Willard  Hull,  of  Delaware. 

29.  Right  Rev.  Bishop  Otey,  of  Tennessee. 
80.  Gerard  Ralston,  of  London. 

31.  Rev.  Courtland  Van  Rensselaer,  of  New  Jersey. 

32.  Dr.  Hodgkin,  of  London. 

83.  Rev.  £.  Burgess,  D.  D.,  of  Massachusetts. 

84.  Thos.  R.  Hazard,  of  Rhode  Island. 

85.  Dr.  Thomas  Massie,  of  Virginia. 

86.  Major  General  Winfield  Scott,  of  Washington. 

37.  Rev.  A.  Alexander,  D.  D.,  of  New  Jersey. 

38.  L.  Q.  C.  Elmer,  of  New  Jersey. 
89.  James  Railey,  of  Mississippi. 

40.  Rev.  Geo.  W.  Bethune,  D.  D.,  of  Philadelphia. 

41.  Rev.  C.  C.  Cuyler,  D.  D.,  of  Philadelphia. 

42.  Elliot  Cresson,  of  Philadelphia. 

43.  Anson  G.  Phelps,  of  New  York. 

44.  Rev.  Leonard  Woods,  D.  D.,  of  Massachusetts. 


< 


79 


45.  Jonathan  Hide,  of  Maine. 

46.  Rt>v.  Beverly  VVai^h,  Bishop  M.  E.  Church,  Baltimore. 

47.  Rev.  Dr.  W.  B.  Johnxon,  oi  Suuth  Caioliaa. 

48.  Mostvs  Siiv '  mid,  Baliimore. 

49.  Rihhop  Mcllvuiti,  of  Ohio. 

fiO.  Rev.  Dr.  Edgar,  Nashville,  Tennessee. 
51.  Rev.  P.  Liiidaley,  D   D.,  of  Tennessee. 

62.  Hon.  J.  R.  Underwood,  of  Kentucky. 

63.  Rev.  J.  J.  Janeway,  D.  D.,  of  New  Jersey. 

64.  H.  L.  Lumpkin,  Esq.,  Athens,  Georgia. 

65.  James  Lenox,  of  New  York. 

66.  Bi-hopSoule,  D.  D.,  of  Tennessee. 

67.  Professor  T.  C.  Upham,  of  Maine. 

68.  Hon.  Thomas  Corwin,  of  Ohio. 

69.  Hon.  Thos.  W.  W>!!iams,  of  Connecticut. 

60.  Hon.  Simon  Gr^enleaf,  of  MassachuseUs. 

61.  Rev.  John  Early,  D.  D.,  of  Virginia. 

62.  Rev.  Lovick  Pierce,  of  Georgia. 

63.  Hon.  R.  J.  Walker,  of  Mississippi. 

64.  Samuel  Gurney,  England. 

65.  Charles  McMicken,  Esq.,  Cincinnati,  Ohio. 

66.  John  Bell,  M.  D.  Philadelpliia,  Pennsylvania. 


